I7I4. 


li^f^ti^^l  ll'^etiit^e 


BY 


Rev.   E    0.  JAMESON, 


PASTOR   OF   THE   FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST, 


MEDW/Y,  MjlSS, 


1876. 


FROM   THE    LIBRARY   OF 

REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY    HIM    TO 

THE    LIBRARY   OF 

PRINCETON   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


» 


Diyiaion    SC^I 
&ctl«      /^/^ 


I7I4-         "f(ilflttt0  m  ilief  adliditd  «$/'  "^'      1876 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE 


PREACHED   ON   THE 


ONE   HUNDRED   AND   SIXTY-SECOND   ANNIVERSARY 


fir0t  €ijnnij  of  Cijdst, 


MMmwiin  Mass* 


FIRST  SABBATH  IN  OCTOBER, 
1876. 


// 

By  Rev.  E.  O.  JAMESON,  Pastor. 


Published  by  the  Church. 


BOSTON : 

A  L  P'  R  E  D     M  U  D  G  E    &    SON,     PRINTERS, 

34    School    Street. 

1^7  7- 


I 


RESOLVES, 

Unanimously  adopted  by  the  First  Cliurch  of  Christ,  in  .Ifedzvay,  at  their 
Monthly  Meeting  on  Saturday,  iXov.  4,  1876. 

Resolved,  That  we  heartily  appreciate  the  patient  research  and  labor 
involved  in  the  preparation  of  the  very  able  and  interesting  Historical 
Discourse  delivered  by  our  Pastor  on  the  occasion  of  our  late  Anniver- 
sary ;  and  moved  thereto  by  our  own  desire  to  preserve  the  historical 
incidents  relating  to  our  Church  and  Society,  thus  laboriously  gathered, 
as  well,  as  by  a  very  generally  expressed  wish  in  the  community  about  us, 
we  most  respectfully  ask  of  him  that  the  same  may  be  published,  together 
with  the  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Sabbath  School  presented  by  him  on 
the  same  occasion. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  three  be  chosen  to  co-operate  with  our 
Pastor  in  reference  to  the  publication  and  distribution  of  his  discourse. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  consist  of  the  Deacons  of  the  Church, 
viz.,  Dea.  Elbridge  Clark,  Dea.  William  Daniels,  and  Dea.  Horatio  Jones. 

A  true  copy. 

Attest.  WILLIAM   DANIELS,  Clerk. 


%t\\n  Of  the  ga,sitov. 

To  THE  First  Church  of  Christ,  in  Medway. 

Dear  Brethren  and  Friends, — Your  Clerk  has  placed  in  my  hands  a 
copy  of  the  resolutions  adopted  at  the  last  Church  Meeting. 

These  resolutions  have  reference  to  the  publication  of  the  Historical 
Discourse  preached  on  the  occasion  of  the  late  Anniversary  of  the 
Church,  together  with  the  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Sabbath  School  read 
on  tiie  same  day. 

You  will  please  accept  my  thanks  for  this  kind  expression  of  interest 
and  appreciation  ;  and  in  consideration  of  the  general  wish  expressed  : 
and  in  further  consideration  that  the  incidents  and  facts,  thus  gatiiered, 
may  remain  of  some  local  account  in  years  to  come,  I  am  persuaded  to 
yield  to  your  request,  and  do  hereby  consent  to  have  these  papers 
published. 

Your  afiectionate  Pastor, 

E.  O.  JAMESON. 
November  15,  1876. 


Walfc  about  x'xmx,  mil  (\o  vomjuI  about  her:  trll  the  iomxr^ 
thereof. 

Parh  ye  uell  her  buhrarh.s,  rott.$irter  her  palaceis ;  that  yc  may 
tell  it  to  the  jjeneratiou  foUcuinfl.— gis.  48:12-13. 


In  all  ages  and  countries  it  has  been  the  common  impulse 
of  mankind  to  leave  some  memorial.  This  universal  desire  is 
evidenced  by  builded  monument  and  pyramid,  by  hieroglyphic 
and  hierogram,  by  the  storj'  and  song  of  tradition,  by  painting 
and  sculpture,  by  coins  and  written  annals.  And  this  human 
passion  to  be  remembered  by  leaving  some  memorial  to  future 
generations  of  what  has  been,  of  transpired  events,  of  human 
deeds  and  achievements,  appears  to  have  inscribed  upon  it  the 
signature  of  God's  approval  and  encouragement  ;  for  He 
expressly  commanded  ancient  Israel  to  build  the  heap  of 
stones,  to  raise  the  memorial  pillar,  to  erect  the  altar  of  wit- 
ness, to  set  up  the  stone  of  Ebenezer,  to  record  and  rehearse 
in  story  and  psalm  the  national  history.  God  seems  to  tell 
us  that  in  leaving  such  monuments  and  records  a  kindly 
service  is  rendered  succeeding  generations,  for  we  find,  in 
that  the  Bible  is  so  largely  historical,  that  God  himself  values 
highly  such  means  of  human  instruction. 

Corresponding  to  this  universal  and  divinely  approved 
desire  for  remembrance,  we  find  an  almost  equally  universal 
fondness  for  the  memorials  of  the  past.  There  is  a  strong 
instinctive  impulse  to  find  out  what  has  transpired  ;  and  man- 
kind of  to-day  are  as  eager  to  decipher  the  ancient  hiero- 
glyphic, to  spell  out  the  time-worn  and  illegible  records  as 
the  old  generations  ever  could  have  been  to  inscribe  them. 


The  interest  in  history  is  very  general.  Hardly  anything 
has  greater  fascination  for  the  human  mind  than  historical 
research  ;  old  ruins  are  excavated,  buried  cities  exhumed,  the 
bowels  of  the  earth  ransacked,  quaint  symbols  and  old  records 
studied,  by  this  human  desire  to  learn  what  has  been. 

This  impresses  us,  only  the  more,  with  the  sacred  obligation 
to  leave  on  record  whatever  may  prove  of  interest  or  value  to 
those  who  shall  live  after  us. 

_We  should  recognize  not  only  these  corresponding  impulses 
of  human  nature,  —  the  one  to  tell  its  history,  the  other,  to 
hear  it  told,  but,  it  seems  to  me,  we  should  recognize  also 
an  obligation,  a  sacred  duty  we  owe  to  those  who  shall  sue. 
ceed  us,  to  gather  up  with  care  and  patience  the  scattered 
materials  and  loose  fragments  of  history,  which  lie  unknown 
or  hid  away  in  the  attics  of  ancient  dwellings,  and  liable  to  be 
lost,  in  some  box  or  basket  of  waste  papers  ;  to  pick  up,  bind 
together,  and  place  on  file  in  some  secure  form,  all  those 
items  and  facts  of  earlier  times  which  have  floated  down  the 
years  and  lie  loosely  about,  only  too  easily  burned  up  and 
lost.  To  secure  these  for  preservation  and  hand  them  over  to 
posterity  seems  a  service  not  to  be  neglected. 

While,  at  all  times,  we  should  seek  to  serve  the  Future, 
by  handing  over  to  her  whatever  may  be  of  historic  interest 
and  value,  yet  perhaps  at  certain  epochs  it  becomes  the 
special  duty,  as  it  should  be  the  privilege,  of  those  who  happen 
to  be  then  living  and  filling  certain  relations,  to  undertake  a 
somewhat  unusual  service  ;  to  make,  even,  a  somewhat  labor- 
ious research,  and  by  an  outlay  of  time  and  expense  to  compile 
and  place  in  some  substantial  form  the  incidents  and  annals  of 
the  past,  that  thus  the  national,  local,  or  church  history  may 
be  handed  over  to  our  successors,  and  its  preservation  secured. 

Moses  lived  in  such  a  day,  and  fulfilled,  by  Divine  help,  such 
a  service  ;  so  also  Ezra  and  other  inspired  men  ;  and  such  an 
epoch  had  come,  and  such  a  service  was  demanded  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Jerusalem  whom  the  Text  addresses.     God  calls 


upon  the  citizens  of  Zion,  in  the  day  of  her  truest  grandeur 
and  her  highest  prosperity,  to  survey  her  architectural  mag- 
nificence, her  proud  defences,  her  palatial  wealth,  to  consider 
her  wonderous  local  history,  and  to  do  this,  that  they  might 
pass  down  to  the  coming  generations  the  traditions  of  her  glory 
the  story  of  her  municipal  strength  and  opulence.  God  says 
to  the  citizens  of  that  ancient  town,  "  Walk  about  Zion,  and 
go  round  about  her :  tell  the  towers  thereof.  Mark  ye  well 
her  bulwarks,  consider  her  palaces  :  that  ye  may  tell  it  to  the 
generations  following."  Are  not  such  words  the  voice  of 
God  to  us,  citizens  of  America,  in  this  Centennial  epoch  of 
our  national  history .''  Is  not  this  the  time,  which  calls  for 
that  somewhat  unusual  service,  that  somewhat  laborious  re- 
search, and  liberal  expenditure  to  discover,  to  compile,  and  to 
transmit  for  preservation  whatever  there  may  be  of  historical 
fact  and  incident  concerning  the  nation,  the  state,  the  town, 
and  the  parish .-'  So  that,  whatever  is  worthy  of  record,  we 
may  tell  to  the  generation  following.  To  such  a  service  the 
inspired  Text,  the  recent  enactment  of  our  American  Congress, 
the  close  of  a  century  of  unprecedented  national  development, 
and,  I  may  add,  the  wonderful  Providence  and  Grace  of  God 
to  the  Church,  call  us. 

It  happens  to  me,  at  such  time,  to  be  standing  in  this 
honored  pulpit  as  the  Pastor  of  this  ancient  Church  of  Christ. 
Thus  standing  in  this  sacred  place,  and  in  such  relations  of 
sacred  trust,  I  am  persuaded,  if  not  as  by  an  obligation,  yet,  as 
by  a  personal  privilege  and  as  a  service  that  might  not  be 
wholly  without  interest  and  value  to  you,  to  yield  myself  some- 
what to  the  call  made,  and  give  the  hour  of  discourse  this 
morning  to 

THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH    OF    CHRIST    IN    MEDWAY. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  historical  sketch  I  have  glanced 
with  curious  eye  and  with  no  ordinary  pleasure,  along  the 
pages  of  the  old  Record  Books  of  Church  and  Parish.     I  have 


8 

seized  with  an  eager  hand  the  scattered  papers,  yellow  with 
age,  lying  about  in  the  attics  of  ancient  homes.  I  have  read 
with  interest  the  almost  illegible  Diaries  of  the  old  inhabi- 
tants. I  have  made  some  of  the  happiest  discoveries  of 
facts  of  church  history,  inscribed  on  the  fly-leaves  and  mar- 
gins of  old  Psalm-books  and  Almanacs;  and,  with  diligent 
search,  have  picked  up  here  and  there  many  quaint  and  curious 
things  of  the  olden  times,  only  a  few  of  which  can  be  brought 
within  the  reasonable  limits  of  a  discourse.  The  history  of 
this  ancient  Church  covers  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  years,  reaching  back  to  a  date  within  a  few  months  of  the 
incorporation  of  the  town.  In  fact,  it  was  that  this  Church 
of  Christ  might  be  organized,  that  the  Town  of  Medway  was 
conceived  and  given  an  existence.  It  was  to  make  ready  for 
this  Church,  to  build  its  meeting-house,  and  to  provide  for  its 
minister,  that  the  Great  General  Court  was  petitioned,  and 
the  Act  of  Incorporation  granted,  by  which  the  town  of  Med- 
way was  established.  Indeed,  that  the  inhabitants  might 
have  among  themselves  a  meeting-house,  a  "  learned  Orthodox 
minister,"  and  Christian  institutions,  was  the  principal  object 
in  those  days  for  which  any  locality  sought  and  were  granted 
town  privileges.  Thus  Medway  was  the  cradle  prepared  in 
which  to  place  and  rock  the  infant  Church,  and  for  many 
years  the  officers  of  the  town,  selectmen  and  various  com- 
mittees, were  the  nursing  fathers  and  mothers,  the  guardians, 
to  care  for  and  nourish  the  infancy  and  childhood  of  this 
Church  of  Christ. 

Preliminary  to  the  account  to  be  given,  it  will  be  of  interest, 
perhaps,  to  run  over  hastily  what  is  known  of  this  locality, 
prior  to  the  formation  of  this  Church.  Hence  let  us  trace 
briefly,  — 

THE    EARLY    HISTORY    OF    THIS    REGION. 

The  Indian  name  of  these  parts,  next  adjacent  the  vast, 
unknown,  and  unbroken  wilderness  toward  the  setting  sun, 


across  the  river  Charles  from  Dedham,  was  Boggastow.  When 
the  West  part  of  Dedham,  or  "  Middle-Field,"  so  called,  was 
granted  by  the  General  Court,  by  an  Act  of  Incorporation,  Jan. 
I,  1650,  these  lands,  known  as  Boggastow,  were  embraced 
within  the  limits  of  the  new  township  under  the  name  of 
Meadfield,  now  called  Medfield.  In  the  order  of  incorporation 
Medfield  was  the  forty-third  town  of  Massachusetts. 

It  was  incorporated  while  John  Endicott  was  Governor  of 
the  Colony,  about  a  year  after  Charles  the  First  was  be- 
headed, and  during  the  ascendancy  of  Cromwell  in  England. 
Nine  years  after,  in  1659,  settlements  having  pushed  further 
to  the  westward,  there  was  added  to  Medfield  a  new  territory 
of  eight  square  miles,  a  region  called  by  the  Indians  "  Muck- 
squirt,"  subsequently  called  the  "  New  Grant,"  and  now  known 
as  West  Medway. 

The  early  settlers  of  Medfield,  West  of  the  Charles,  were  for 
some  years  few  and  scattered  ;  and  in  the  days  of  Indian 
hostilities,  under  King  Philip,  they  were  exceedingly  exposed 
to  assaults  and  depredations  of  the  savages. 

After  the  burning  of  Medfield  village,  Feb.  21,  1676,  Mon- 
day morning,  the  Indians,  some  five  hundred  in  number, 
retired  across  the  river  to  this  part  of  the  town,  burning  the 
bridge  after  them,  and  assembled  on  the  top  of  one  of  the 
nearest  hills,  in  full  view  of  the  ruins  they  had  occasioned. 
There  they  held  a  savage  feast,  and  King  Philip  himself  was 
seen  on  a  black  horse  galloping  and  prancing  about,  in  high 
glee  over  the  havoc  he  had  made.  The  people  of  this  part  of 
Medfield  had  provided  themselves  with  a  stone  building  near 
Boggastow  Pond,  into  which  they  all  retired  for  safety.  The 
Indians  lingered  about  in  these  regions,  attempting  to  invade 
the  garrison  at  different  times,  and  finally  made  a  fierce  assault 
upon  the  "Stone-house"  on  the  6th  of  May,  1676,  but  "met 
with  a  notorious  repulse." 

At  the  time  of  this  final  assault,  it  appears,  that  all  the  people 
of  the  settlement  were  safely  within  the   Stone-house  except 


lO 

one  mother  with  her  young  babe,  who,  being  too  weak  to  walk 
the  distance  or  too  late  in  seeking  the  refuge,  was  left,  poor 
woman !  separated  by  the  woods  and  a  distance  of  a  mile  and 
more  from  all  the  other  inhabitants,  in  an  unprotected  dwell- 
ing, with  no  mortal  to  speak  to,  with  no  lighted  candle. 
Alone  in  the  darkness,  the  yell  of  the  savages  in  her  ears,  she 
sat  all  night  long  holding  her  child  in  her  arms,  on  the  cellar- 
stairs  of  a  house  that  anciently  stood  near  that  of  our  vener- 
able neighbor,  Mr.  Silas  Richardson. 

For  weeks  after,  the  women  and  children  kept  close  within 
the  stone  building,  while  the  men,  with  musket  and  hoe  in 
hand,  went  forth,  when  the  sun  was  an  hour  high,  to  their 
lands,  and  returned  an  hour  before  sunset.  The  following 
July,  however,  a  desperate  battle  was  fought  in  the  woods 
near  by,  and  the  Indians  were  defeated,  put  to  flight,  and 
pursued  as  far  as  Taunton,  by  a  force  of  thirty  men  with 
ninety  Christian  Indians,  under  the  command  of  the  heroic 
Capt.  Joseph  Morse.  In  this  pursuit  no  less  than  fifty  In- 
dians were  taken  captive,  among  whom  was  Pomham,  the  great 
Sachem  of  the  Narragansetts.  It  was  very  soon  after,  that  King 
Philip  himself  was  slain,  and  the  savages  abandoned  this  part  of 
the  country  and  never  after  disturbed  the  settlers  in  these  parts. 

History  tells  us  that  the  people  who  first  occupied  these 
lands  "  were  men  and  women  of  ardent  piety." 

Their  first  minister,  while  they  belonged  to  Medfield,  was 
Rev.  John  Wilson,  Jr.,  the  eldest  son  of  "  Rev.  John  Wilson, 
the  first  minister  of  Charlestown,  afterwards  the  first  minister 
of  the  First  Church  in  the  ancient  town  of  Boston."  John 
Wilson,  Jr.,  was  a  graduate  of  the  first  class  of  Harvard 
University  in  1642.  He  was  settled  in  Medfield  in  165  i,  and 
continued  their  minister  for  forty  years,  until  his  death  He 
died  Aug.  23,  1691,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years  "  The 
Lord's  day  preceding  his  translation,"  (reads  the  record)  "  he 
preached  both  forenoon  and  afternoon  fervently  and  power- 
fully.    The   Lord's  day  he  expired,  the    greater  part   of  his 


II 

Church  were  present  to  behold  and  lament  his  removal  from 
them." 

After  the  lapse  of  nearly  six  years  from  the  decease  of  their 
first  minister,  and  after  hearing  thirty-two  different  candidates, 
(which  seems  about  the  only  modern  thing  to  be  told  of  those 
olden  times,)  they  ordained  as  the  second  pastor  of  Medfield, 
April  21,  1697,  a  young  man  not  yet  twenty«-one  years  of  age, 
whose  name  was  Joseph  Baxter,  a  native  of  Braintree,  and  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  University  in  the  Class  of  1693.  Rev. 
Mr.  Baxter  was  pastor  for  nearly  forty-eight  years,  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  May  2,  1745,  in  the  sixty-ninth 
year  of  his  age.  Of  him  the  historian  of  the  church  says,  "  He 
was  much  respected  and  generously  supported." 

It  was  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  the  ministry  of  this  second 
pastor  of  Medfield,  Rev.  Joseph  Baxter,  in  the  year  1713,  that 
the  inhabitants  of  old  Boggastow  and  the  New  Grant,  having 
become  somewhat  numerous  and  prosperous,  and  it  being  a 
long  distance  to  the  meeting-house  at  Medfield  Plain,  and 
bitterly  cold  crossing  the  wide  intervening  meadow  lands  in 
Winter,  these  people,  situated  thus  remotely  from  their  place  of 
public  worship,  began  to  think  of  having  a  meeting-house  and 
a  minister  among  themselves.  For  more  than  sixty  years  they 
had  faithfully  attended  the  meetings  in  the  old  Church  beyond 
the  river  at  the  centre  of  the  town  ;  and  they  dearly  loved  the 
"  old  meeting-house,"  they  loved  the  people  of  that  part  of 
Medfield,  and  they  loved  their  good  minister  ;  but  the  distance 
was  great,  and  in  cold  weather  very  tedious  "  the  way  to  Zion's 
hill."  Therefore  they  determined  to  establish  the  Gospel 
among  themselves.  Inspired  by  this  idea  of  having  a  meeting- 
house, a  minister,  public  worship,  and  a  Church,  they  went 
about  obtaining  an  Act  of  Incorporation  as  a  town.  Accord- 
ingly, they  petitioned  the  Governor  and  General  Court,  and 
their  petition  was  granted  in  the  twelfth  year  of  the  reign  of 
Queen  Anne,  sometimes  called  "  the  Good  Queen,"  the  Act  of 
Incorporation  being  dated  Oct.  25,  17 13,  and  reading  as  fol- 
lows :  — 


12 


ANNO    REGNI    ANNyE    REGIN/E    DUODECIM. 

An  Act  for  dividing  of  the  TozvnsJiip  of  RTedfield  and  erect- 
ing a  neiv  1  'oivn  there  by  the  name  of  Medivay. 

Whereas  the  lands  of  the  Township  of  Medfield  within  the  County  of 
Suffolk  lye  situate  on  Charles  River,  to  wit  on  both  sides  of  the  said 
River  being  divided  by  the  same  :  and  the  Town  plat  and  principal  settle- 
ment, as  also  the  Meeting-house  for  the  Public  Worship  of  God,  being 
seated  on  the  East  side  for  the  accommodation  of  the  first  and  Ancient 
Inhabitants,  who  are  now  much  increased,  many  issued  forth  and  settled 
on  the  West  side  of  the  River  to  a  competent  number  for  a  distinct  Town 
of  themselves,  and  labor  under  many  hardships  and  Difficulties  I^y  reason 
of  separation  by  the  River  to  enjoy  equal  benefit  and  town  privileges  with 
others  their  fellow  Townsmen  and  neighbors,  and  have  therefore  made 
application  to  the  Town  as  also  addressed  this  Court  to  be  made  a  distinct 
Town.  Committees  appointed  by  this  Court  having  been  upon  the 
Ground,  viewed  the  same  and  Reported  in  their  favor  for  proper  bounds 
to  be  set  them. 

Be  it  Enacted  by  his  Excel /ency  the  Govcrnour,  Cotincil  and 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled  and  by  the  Au- 
thority of  the  same  : 

That  all  those  Lands  lying  on  the  West  Side  of  Charles  River,  now 
part  of  the  Township  of  Medfield,  be  Erected  and  made  into  a  Distinct 
and  Separate  Town  by  the  name  of  Medway,  the  River  to  be  the  Bounds 
betwixt  the  Two  Towns.  And  that  the  Inhabitants  of  Medway  have,  use 
and  exercise  and  enjoy  all  such  power  and  privileges  which  other  Towns 
have,  and  so  by  Law  use,  exercise  &  enjoy.  So  that  they  procure  and 
Settle  a  Learned,  Orthodox  Minister  of  good  Conversation  among  'em 
and  make  provision  for  an  Hon'>We  support  &  maintainance  for  him. 
And  that  in  order  thereto,  they  be  Discharged  from  further  payment  to 
the  Ministry  in  Medfield  from  and  after  the  last  day  of  February  next. 

Provided  also.  —  That  all  Province  and  Town  Taxes  that  are  already 
Levied,  or  Granted,  be  collected  and  paid,  and  all  Town  Rights  and  Com- 
mon undivided  Lands  remain  to  be  divided  among  the  Interested  as  if  no 
Separation  had  been  made. 

And  Mr.  George  Fairbanks,  a  principal  Inhabitant  of  the  said  Town  of 
Medway,  is  hereby  Directed  and  Impowered  to  notify  and  Summon  the 
Inhabitants  duly  Qualified  for  Voters  to  Assemble  and  meet  together  for 
the  Choosing  of  Town  Officers  to  stand  untill  the  next  Annual  Election 
according  to  Law. 

A  true  Copy. 

Examined. 

I.  ADDINGTON,  Scc'ty. 


13 

And  thus  were  the  old  Indian  lands  of  "Boggastow"  and 
"Mucksquirt"  constituted  the  town  of  Medway,  in  order  of 
incorporation  the  sixty-ninth  town  in  the  Commonwealth  ; 
and  the  inhabitants  were  to  "  use  and  exercise  and  enjoy  all 
such  powers  and  privileges,  which  other  towns  have  and  so  by 
Law,  use  exercise  and  enjoy,  so  that  they  procure  and  Settle 
a  Learned  Orthodox  Minister  of  good  Conversation  among 
them  and  make  provision  for  an  honorable  support  and  main- 
tainance  for  him." 

This  separation,  your  ancestors  were  careful  to  place  on 
record,  "  was  not  in  consequence  of  any  dislike  to  their  minis- 
ter or  the  Church  and  Society  to  which  they  belonged,  or  any 
difference  in  religious  sentiments,  but  that  they  ^  and  their 
posterity  might  more  conveniently  enjoy  gospel  privileges." 
Tradition  says,  that  the  name  Medway, was  suggested  by  the 
locality  itself,  it  being  situated  Meadway,  i.  e.,  between  or  by 
way  of  the  meadows. 

FORMATION    OF    THE    CHURCH    OF    CHRIST. 

The  people  of  the  new  town  of  Medway  at  once  set  about 
the  exercise  of  their  incorporated  rights  and  privileges. 
Accordingly,  under  date  of 

"Medway  november  y"  23.  I7ij"  the  first  Town  Meeting  was  held. 
And  after  choice  of  Town  Officers,  "  to  stand  to  next  Annual  Election 
which  will  be  March  I4"»  1714,"  viz.  Town  Clerk,  Constable  and  five 
Select-Men,  it  was 

"  Voted,  That  John  Rockett  and  Jonathan  Adams,  Sen',  Serg'  Samuel 
Partridge,  and  Serg'  Jonathan  Adams  and  Edward  Clark  to  be  a  Committee 
to  take  care  to  procure  the  Meeting-house  built." 

The  second  vote  was, 

"To  procure  accommodations  for  the  setting  the  Meeting-house  upon 
the  place  commonly  called  Bare  Hills  and  procure  some  convenient 
accommodations  for  the  Ministry  thereabouts."  Two  weeks  later  the 
Town  voted,  To  "put  out  y"  Meeting-house  by  y°  job  to  some  workman, 
and  that  men  that  are  to  be  employed  in  the  work  to  be  hired  in  this 
Town." 


14 

The  plan  being  adopted,  the  articles  of  agreement,  made 
between  John  Richardson  and  the  Committee  for  building  the 
Meeting-house,  were  signed  June  7,  1714. 

Thus  the  building  of  the  Meeting-house  was  given  in  charge 
of  faithful  John  Richardson,  with  instructions  to  employ  only- 
citizens  of  the  town,  doubtless  so  that  every  workman  should 
have  an  interest  in  his  work  as  well  as  his  pay.  A  wisdom 
worthy  to  be  copied  ! 

When  now  the  work  was  well  under  way,  and  the  first 
Meeting-house  had  been  raised  over  on  yonder  hill,  (called 
Bare,  not  because  the  rendezvous  of  bears,  but  because  barren, 
as  we  see  to  this  day,)  a  meeting  of  the  town  was  called,  of 
which  we  have  this  record  : 

"  1714  September  the  22.  Assembled  the  Enhabitants  of  Medway  At 
the  house  of  peter  Adiynses.  John  Rocket  was  chose  moderator. 
Voted,  that  the  Town  will  provide  a  minister  for  themselves  for  the  time 
to  come.  Voted,  Capt.  gorge  fairbancks  and  John  partridg  and  peter 
Adams  and  Ensin  John  bullard  and  ser.  Timothy  Clarke  is  chosen  a 
comitty  to  provide  a  minister  for  the  Town  untill  the  aniwall  metting  in 
march  next  following,  and  it  is  voted  that  y'"  town  are  to  meet  at  the  house 
of  peter  Adamses  to  atend  the  publick  worship  of  God  on  the  sabbath 
days  and  he  haws  given  his  consent  to  the  same." 

Thus  a  temporary  place  of  worship  is  provided,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  five  prominent  citizens  are  charged  with  the  high 
responsibility  of  securing  a  minister.  But  in  those  days  there 
were  no  telegraph,  railroad,  post-office,  no  regular  mails, 
hardly  a  highway  ;  and  last  but  not  least,  no  Ministers'  Bu- 
reau and  no  Mr.  Sargent  to  help  a  parish  to  a  good  minister 
upon  an  hour's  notice.  There  was  no  way  open  but  for  two 
or  more  of  this  coinmittee  to  journey  to  Cambridge  or  Boston 
and  arrange  for  a  minister  as  soon  as  might  be.  They  ful- 
filled their  mission,  and  returned  with  the  word,  that,  "  on  the 
first  sabbath  in  October  {i.e.,  Oct.  7,  17 14)  a  minister  will 
preach  in  Medway." 

And,  doubtless,  to  the  coming  of  that  first  Sabbath  of  Octo- 
ber, one  hundred  and  sixty-two  years  ago,  the  inhabitants  of 


15 

the  new  town  looked  with  even  greater  interest  than  any  of 
us  have  looked  forward  to  the  coming  of  this  day  of  its  anni- 
versary. 

That  was  a  long  time  ago.  Things  here  have  changed. 
Then  there  were  dense  forests,  with  only  here  and  there  a 
narrow  clearing  ;  and  rude  dwellings,  scattered  about,  were 
few  in  number.  The  people  had  never  seen  a  church-spire  or 
heard  a  church-bell.  The  low,  flat-roofed,  first  Meeting-house 
was  not  yet  completed.  True,  the.  building  was  going  up : 
just  over  on  Bare  Hills  the  daily  clatter  of  hammers  gave 
assurance  that  good  John  Richardson  had  not  forgotten  his 
contract,  that  he  and  his  neighbors  were  busy. 

This  was  a  frontier  settlement  then,  the  "out  West"  of 
that  day ;  everything  was  new  and  primitive.  But  the  same 
sky  was  overhead  then,  as  now ;  the  same  God  and  Saviour 
was  beyond  the  sky  ;  and  pious  hearts  gathered  around  family 
altars  in  the  homes  here  then,  as  now. 

The  autumn  foliage  was  brilliant  and  gorgeous,  as  it  is 
to-day,  on  that  desired  Sabbath  morning  one  hundred  and 
sixty-two  years  ago. 

That  first  Sabbath  of  October,  17 14,  to  the  scattered  settlers 
of  Medway,  dawned  as  no  other  ever  had,  because  they  were 
to  have,  for  the  first  time,  public  worship  in  the  place.  Hence 
they  awoke  that  morning  to  a  new  experience. 

The  minister  had  arrived  a  day  or  two  before.  As  the 
hour  of  public  worship  drew  on,  there  was  heard  through  the 
settlement  the  solemn  tap  of  Peter  Adams's  old  drum,  which 
he  had  brought  home  from  the  Indian  wars,  and  the  people 
were  seen  gathering,  on  foot  and  on  horseback,  from  all  parts 
of  the  town,  along  the  crooked  paths,  through  woods  and 
clearings,  all  going  towards  the  house  of  Peter  Adams.  There 
were  old  and  venerable  men  and  women,  mothers  with  their 
babies,  boys  and  girls,  Indians  and  colored  people,  all  hurry- 
ing to  one  place.  There  was  to  be  a  meeting  that  day !  And 
by  the  time  of  service,  the  large,  low-ceiled  rooms  were 
packed  with  an  eager  and  happy  congregation. 


i6 

The  preaclier,  who  was  there,  seated  by  the  small  table,  with 
the  family  Bible  open  before  him,  (who  had  come  from  Bos- 
ton, or  Cambridge,  or  elsewhere,  as  a  candidate,)  was  a  man 
of  some  forty  years,  with  a  mild,  intelligent  face,  wearing  a 
solemn  yet  kind  expression.  His  name  was  asked  and  whis- 
pered from  one  to  another.  "  It  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Deming," 
said  this  lady  to  the  one  sitting  next  to  her.  All  seemed 
eager  and  expectant ;  at  length,  as  the  preacher  rose,  every 
eye  was  riveted,  every  Mp  hushed,  and  every  heart  solemn. 
Stretching  forth  his  hand,  the  minister  said,  "Let  us  pray!" 
That  prayer,  so  solemn,  so  tender,  so  fervent !  It  seemed  to 
speak  in  each  heart,  "  This  is  a  man  of  God !"  Then  they 
sang  a  metred  psalm  in  some  good  old  tune,  in  which  there 
was  dtvout  worship,  as  there  is  not  in  much  modern  church 
music.  Afterward  came  the  sermon,  for  it  had  not  then  been 
voted,  nor  was  it  for  a  long  time  after,  the  practice  to  read  "  the 
Scriptures"  in  public  service. 

The  Puritans  held  that  the  Bible  was  for  the  laity  to  read 
and  interpret  for  themselves,  and  hence  forbade  its  public 
reading  in  worship  by  the  clergy.  "  It  was  a  good  sermon," 
the  people  said  ;  and  they  said  so,  because  all  sermons  were 
good  to  them,  and  because  it  went  straight  as  an  Indian's 
arrow  to  its  mark,  to  the  heart  and  conscience  of  the  hearer. 

There  was  probably  an  afternoon  service  that  day,  but  no 
Sabbath  School  and  no  Sabbath  Evening  Prayer-meeting  till 
the  lapse  of  more  than  a  hundred  years. 

Whether,  then  and  there,  on  that  first  occasion  of  public 
worship,  or  not  till  some  months  after,  this  Church  was  for- 
mally organized  is  not  known,  and  it  is  immaterial ;  for  this 
Church  of  Christ  was  formed,  in  fact,  on  that  day,  by  the 
assembling  together  of  Christian  believers,  with  the  under- 
standing that  henceforth  they  were  to  worship  statedly  to- 
gether in  one  place,  and  celebrate  Christian  ordinances  :  such 
is  the  essential  simplicity  and  beauty  of  the  New  Testament, 
or  Congregational,  principle  of  constituting  a  Christian  Church. 


17 

We  love  to  think  that  this  old  Church  of  Christ  in  Med- 
way  was  established,  so  exactly,  after  the  manner  of  the 
primitive  churches  in  the  apostolic  times!  And  we  are  happy 
to  observe  the  first  Sabbath  of  October,  the  day  on  which 
public  worship  was  held  in  the  town  for  the  first  time,  as  the 
Anniversary  Day  of  the  organization  of  this  ancient  Church. 

We  are  happy  also  to  find  that  the  first  Christian  preacher 
on  the  ground,  the  one  who  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the 
town  of  Medway,  was  the  same,  who  afterward  became  her 
first  settled  minister. 

As  proof,  that  "  the  first  Sabbath  in  October  "  is  the  day, 
and  that  Rev.  Mr.  Deming  was  the  preacher  on  that  day,  I 
copy  from  the  town  records  the  following  receipt  of  salary, 
signed  by  the  hand  of  Rev.  Mr.  Deming  himself,  as  follows  :  — 

'■Medway,  April  the  nth,  1715,  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Danielson. 
Then  and  there,  Received  the  sum  of  26  pounds  of  money  of  the  .Select- 
Men  and  Committee  for  preaching  to  the  Town,  which  is  in  full  discharge 
from  the  seventh  of  October  in  the  year  17 14  to  the  ninth  day  of  April  in 
the  year  1715. 

"  I  say  received  by  me, 

(Signed)        David  Deming." 

The  town  met,  Jan.  31,  171 5,  to  call  a  minister  for  settle- 
ment. The  record  is  "  When  the  votes  w^ere  given  in  and 
sorted,  Rev.  David  Deming  was  chosen  to  settle  amongst  us 
to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry."  But  either  because  of 
engagements  elsewhere,  or  for  some  other  reason,  Mr.  Deming 
did  not  accept  this  call  until  the  following  September.  His 
letter  of  acceptance  was  read  in  open  town-meeting  held  Sept. 
12,  1715,  in  the  Meeting-house,  which  at  that  date  was  suf- 
ficiently completed  for  occupancy.  The  town  voted  an  annual 
salary  of  sixty  pounds  ;  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  Oct.  24, 
1 71 5,  they  voted,  "That  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Deming  should 
take  place  on  the  third  Wednesday  in  November  next."  And 
accordingly,  on  Wednesday,  No\%  20,  17 15,  Rev.  David  Deming 
was  ordained  and  became  the  first  pastor  of  th-;  Church  of 
Christ  in  Medway. 
3 


i8 

What  churches  were  invited  on  the  Council,  what  ministers 
took  part  in  the  services,  who  preached  the  Ordination  Ser- 
mon, are  matters  to  me  unl<nown.  That  the  first  Meeting- 
house was  dedicated  on  the  day  of  Ordination  is  very  probable. 

17  I  5  —  FIRST    MEETING-HOUSE. —  1749- 

The  first  Meeting-house  stood  on  the  west  side  of  what  is 
now  the  Cemetery,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  public  tomb.  It  was 
thirty-four  feet  in  length,  twenty-eight  feet  in  width,  and  sixteen 
feet  between  joints  ;  the  roof  was  nearly  flat,  rising  only  four 
feet  above  the  centre  of  beam.  The  walls  were  planked  and 
clapboarded  on  the  outside,  and  within  "  sealed  up  with  good 
boards."  There  were  galleries  on  three  sides  ;  the  pulpit  was 
as  high  as  possible,  reached  by  a  winding  stair  and  shut  up  with 
a  door.  At  first,  there  was  but  one  pew  made,  probably  for  the 
Deacons  ;  the  rest  of  the  house  was  seated  with  pine  benches. 
After  three  years  had  elapsed  the  town  made  an  appropriation 
of  twenty-five  shillings,  and  instructed  Mr.  John  Richardson 
"  to  build  another  pew  at  the  North-East  end  of  the  Meeting- 
House  next  to  the  pulpit  for  the  Minister's  family  to  sit  in." 
Subsequently  other  pews  were  built,  on  permission  of  the  town, 
by  the  more  wealthy  and  honorable  families  at  their  own  ex- 
pense. It  was  a  current  practice  to  have  a  committee  chosen, 
men  of  good  judgment,  to  seat  the  Meeting-house,  /.  c,  to 
assign  the  seats  to  persons  according  to  their  honorable  stand- 
ing, by  reason  of  years  and  wealth. 

In  the  winter  of  1749,  Jan.  18,  this  first  Meeting-house  was 
burned  by  some  unknown  person.  Some  surmised  that  it  was 
set  on  fire  by  a  certain  negro,  others,  that  a  prominent  desire 
among  certain  persons  to  have  a  new  meeting-house  inspired 
the  burning  of  the  old  ;  but  whatever  the  unknown  facts,  we  see 
that  burning  meeting-houses  is  not  a  "  new  thing  under  the 
sun,"  and  that  the  world  has  not  yet  outgrown  a  very  old 
iniquity.     It  seems  that  nothing  was  saved  from  the  fire  ex- 


19 

cept  the  glass  ;  this  the  Parish,  which  began  to  exist  about 
that  time,  voted  should  be  sold,  and  accordingly  sales  were 
made  from  time  to  time,  as  opportunity  oft'ered,  and  the  avails 
were  appropriated  to  pay  Parish  expenses,  and  for  several 
years  the  income  from  this  source  was  more  than  sufficient ; 
so  that,  finally,  from  the  receipts  for  the  glass  from  the  old 
meeting-house,  unexpended,  ten  shillings  were  appropriated  to 
purchase  a  Parish  Record  Book,  five  shillings  for  a  latch  to  put 
on  the  pulpit-door  in  the  new  meeting-house,  and  the  balance, 
about  four  shillings,  to  compensate  the  parish  clerk,  Samuel 
Harding,  Esq.,  for  copying  the  minutes  of  the  Parish  into  the 
new  and  large  Record  Book.  And  here  we  have  [showing  it] 
that  old  Record  Book  still  in  possession  ;  but  whatever  be- 
came of  the  five-shilling  latch  on  the  pulpit-door  is  among  the 
things  unknown. 

With  the  ordination  of  Rev.  David  Deming,  on  Wednesday, 
Nov.  20,  171 5,  in  the  first  Meeting-house  in  Medway,  begins 
the  series  of  pastorates  of  which  the  present  is  the  ninth. 


171  5 FIRST    PASTORATE. 1 722. 

Rev.  Mr.  Deming  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University,  in 
the  Class  of  1700,  the  last  class  that  graduated  under  the 
presidency  of  the  Rev.  Increase  Mather.  With  whom  the  first 
Pastor  of  Medway  studied  Divinity  is  unknown.  This  was 
seventy  years  before  Mr.  Nathaniel  Emmons  became  the 
minister  of  Franklin,  and  almost  a  century  prior  to  the  found- 
ing a  School  of  the  Prophets  on  Andover  Hill.  There  are  no 
Church  Records  of  the  period  covered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Deming's 
ministry  ;  hence  we  know  very  little  of  his  pastorate,  or  of  this 
Church  during  those  first  years  of  its  history.  Of  the  list  of 
members,  prior  to  the  second  pastorate,  only  three  names  have 
come  down  to  us  ;  these  are  John  Partridge,  Ebenezer  Thomp- 
son, and  Samuel  Partridge,  all  of  whom,  subsequently,  were 
chosen  and  officiated  as  Deacons  of  the  Church. 


20 

Rev.  Mr.  Deming  remained  pastor  only  about  seven  years. 
Early  in  September,  1722,  he  called  the  Selectmen  together 
and  made  this  request,  "  That  y'^  Town  would  give  him  a  total 
dismission  from  his  ministerial  office."  Accordingly  "  assem- 
bled y'"  inhabitants  of  this  town  on  Monday  y"  24th  of  Sept. 
1722,"  and  "y"  Rev.  Mr.  Deming  renewed  his  request  by  writ- 
ing to  y"  Town."  A  lengthy  debate  ensued.  "  A  vote  was 
tried  to  have  the  Town  adjourn,  but  could  get  none.  Then 
both  Church  and  Town,  as  a  Town,  manifested  their  willmg- 
ness  by  vote  to  give  Mr.  Deming  his  request,  and  dismiss  him 
from  his  ministerial  service  amongst  us."  "The  Select-men 
the  same  day  by  y**  desire  of  the  Town  acquainted  Mr.  Dem- 
ing that  they  had  answered  his  request."  "  He  accepted  and 
manifested  his  thanks  to  them  for  the  same." 

"October  16,  .1722.  The  Church  dismissed  Mr.  Deming 
from  his  pastoral  office  over  them  by  advice  of  Council  from 
the  neighboring  Churches." 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright  says,  in  his  Century  Sermon,  of  this  first 
pastor,  "  His  ministry  was  short,  and  according  to  tradition, 
unhappy  for  himself  and  for  the  Church  and  people  of  the 
town."  And  in  his  reflections  he  continues,  "  But  that  holy 
and  merciful  Being,  who  regards  his  Church  and  people  as  the 
apple  of  his  eye,  did  not  long  permit  this  town  to  be  destitute 
of  the  stated  means  of  public  religious  instruction." 

It  appears  that  immediately  on  Mr.  Deming's  dismission,  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  supply  preaching  by  candidates  for 
settlement;  and  we  find  that  Feb.  19,  1724,  the  town  voted 
a  call  very  unanimously  to  Rev.  Joseph  Greene,  of  Boston, 
offering  a  salary  of  seventy-five  pounds  and  a  settlement  of 
ninety  pounds  ;  but  for  some  reason  Mr.  Greene  declined  the 
call.  On  the  following  June  (/.  e.,  June  il,  1724)  the  town 
met  again  to  cast  their  votes  for  a  minister  ;  and  "  when  the 
vote  came  in,  and  was  numbered,  it  fell  unanimously  upon  Mr. 
Nathan  Bucknam,  both  Church  and  Town."  The  salary  offered 
was  eighty  pounds,  and  a  hundred  pounds  were  offered  to  en- 


21 

courage  him,  "  y"  said  Bucknam  to  settle  with  us."  Subse- 
quently the  salary  was  made  ninety  pounds. 

Mr.  Bucknam  did  not  return  his  answer  of  acceptance  until 
Oct.  24  following,  which  Rev.  Mr.  Wright  explains  in  this 
wise:  "  As  he  was  a  minor  when  he  received  the  call,  it  is 
said  he  delayed  his  answer  several  months  that  he  might 
arrive  to  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  previous  to  his  deciding 
upon  a  subject  of  such  magnitude  and  importance." 

In  the  town  records  we  have  the  following  entry :  — 

"  The  Reverend  Mr.  NatJian  Bucknam  s  Answer,  Given 
October  the  25,  1724." 

"  To  THE  Church  and  People  of  Medway  : 

^'■Dearly  beloved,  —  Inasmuch,  as  it  hath  pleased  the  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest, the  King  and  Head  of  the  Church,  whose  sole  prerogative  it  is  to 
send  forth  such  Labourers  into  his  vineyard,  as  seemeth  Him  meet,  in  liis 
over-ruHng  and  all  wise  Providence,  so  to  order  it,  that  you  were  directed 
at  first  to  invite  me  to  dispense  the  glorious  Gospel  of  his  Grace  to  you 
in  this  place,  and  to  render  my  ministerial  labors  amongst  you  so  pleasing 
and  acceptable,  and  so  to  unite  your  hearts  and  affections  to  me,  that  you 
have  so  unanimously  given  me  an  invitation  to  settle  with  you  in  the 
Great  Work  of  Gospel  Ministry,  for  which  I  acknowledge  with  thankful- 
ness his  mercy  and  grace  as  well  as  your  kindness  to  me.  And  whereas. 
He  has  in  his  Sovereign  Providence  so  far  drawn  forth  my  heart  in  love 
towards  you  and  has  so  enlarged  your  hearts,  as  that  you  have  made  me 
such  offers,  respecting  my  settlement  and  support  amongst  you,  as  that, 
I  hope  by  His  blessing  with  it  I  may,  at  present  comfortably  subsist. 
These,  therefore,  are  to  let  you  know,  that,  relying  upon  ye  Divine  Grace, 
blessing,  directing  and  assistance,  and  depending  upon  your  kindness  and 
generosity,  that  you  will  not  let  me  want  hereafter :  but  as  God  shall  give 
you  ability  and  my  circumstances  may  require,  you  will  further  assist  me. 
Upon  serious  consideration  of,  and  good  advice  about,  a  matter  of  so 
great  concern,  as  it  so  nearly  relates  to  the  glory  of  God,  to  your  and  my 
comfort  here  and  happiness  hereafter,  I  do  now,  here,  openly,  heartily 
and  cheerfully  embrace  and  accept  of  your  invitation  to  settle  with  you  in 
the  work  of  ye  ministry  at  Medway.  Praying  that  the  God  of  peace  and 
love  will  continue  our  mutual  love  and  more  and  more  unite  our  affections 
to  each  other  and  yt  "Grace  mercy  and  peace"  may  be  multiplied  abun- 
dantly unto  you  all,  and  asking  your  joynt  prayers  and  continual  suppli- 
cations to  ye  God  of  all  grate  for  me,  that  I  may  prove  the  infinite  fullness 
that  is  in  Christ,  receive  all  the  Grace  yt  1  shall  stand    in  need   of  to 


22 

enable  me  to  behave  myself  wisely  in  the  house  of  God,  and  faithfully  and 
successfully  discharging  my  duty  amongst  you,  in  all  the  parts  of  it  so 
yt  I  may  not  only  save  my  own  soul,  but  yours  and  all  such  as  shall  be 
committed  to  my  trust,  that  we  may  all  at  length  meet  together,  celebrate 
the  praises  of  God  and  the  Lamb,  with  the  church  triumphant  in  the 
everlasting  joys  of  our  Lord  and  Master  to  whom  be  Glory,  Dominion 
and  Power  forever  and  ever.     Amen." 

On  the  following  Dec.  23,  1724,  occurred  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  Nathan  Bucknam. 

"  This,"  says  Mr.  Wright,  "  was  an  auspicious  and  happy 
day  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town." 


1724. SECOND  PASTORATE. 1795- 

This  second  minister  of  Medway  was  born  in  ,  Nov 

2,  1703.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University  in  the 
Class  of  1 72 1,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  Mr.  Bucknam 
came  to  Medway,  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  and  was  settled  in  the  pastoral  office  at  twenty- 
one. 

Says  Rev.  Mr.  Wright, "  Although  Mr.  Bucknam  was  young 
and  of  slender  constitution,  he  was  mature  in  Christian  knowl- 
edge and  e.xperience,  and  strong  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the 
Gospel.  At  the  time  of  his  settlement  he  was  deservedly  con- 
sidered as  an  able,  pious,  and  promising  young  man  ;  and  much 
was  hoped,  under  God,  through  the  instrumentality  of  his  pub- 
lic and  private  labors.  As  to  his  religious  sentiments,  they 
were  Calvinistic.  He  firmly  believed  in  those  doctrines  which 
are  usually  called  the  Doctrines  of  Grace  or  the  Doctrines  of  the 
Reformation.  These  he  faithfully  and  unequivocally  preached." 
The  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Nathan  Bucknam  stretches  across  a 
period  of  more  than  "  three-score  years  and  ten."  It  covers 
nearly  half  the  years  that  have  elapsed  since  his  settlement  ; 
it  is  a  longer  period  than  that  of  the  aggregate  of  the  five  next 
succeeding  pastorates,  which  reach  to  .the  commencement  of 
the  present.     This  surprising  period  is  from   1724  to   1795  ; 


23 

but  the  last  ten  years  of  this  time  the  venerable  Pastor  was 
relieved  of  the  active  duties  of  his  office. 

Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  kept  some  brief  account  of  the  Church 
and  its  doings  while  he  was  in  his  active  ministry.  The 
paper-covers  and  fly-leaves  of  this  ancient  volume  of  Church 
Records  are  covered  with  entries  of  the  marriage  ceremonies 
he  performed.  The  first  marriage,  that  the  young  Mr.  Buck- 
nam solemnized,  was  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Edward  Clark 
(who  lived  where  Mr.  Putnam  Clark  now  resides),  March  17, 
1725.  The  happy  bridegroom  on  that  occasion  was  Jonathan 
Metcalf,  and  the  bright-eyed,  beautiful  bride  was  the  Captain's 
eldest  daughter,  a  young  lady  of  twenty  summers.  The 
record  is  carefully  made  that  "  they  had  been  posted  fifteen 
days  as  the  Law  directs." 

Some  pages  of  this  ancient  Church  Record  are  filled  with  an 
alphabetical  list  of  Baptisms.  The  number  of  these  is  large, 
since  in  those  days  it  was  counted  a  blessed  privilege  by 
parents  to  consecrate  their  offspring  to  the  Lord,  insomuch, 
that  the  Half-way  Covenant  was  devised  in  order  that  persons, 
who  were  not  experimental  Christians,  could  be  admitted 
themselves,  with  their  children,  to  this  holy  rite. 

The  heading  of  this  list  of  Baptisms  runs  thus  :  — 

"  We  must  believe  in  the  ability,  authority  and  faithfulness  of 

Baptism" 

I  Peter  3:21.      "  Whe7runto  Baptism  doth  also  }tozv  save  ns." 

"  It  saves  7(S  by  virtue   of  ye  Holy  Spirit  which   accompanies   this  ordi- 
nance. 

"//  saves  zis,  as  it  admits  and  incorporates  us  into  ye  society  and  family 
of  those  who  are  to  be  saved. 

" /t  saves  lis,  as  a  proper  instrument  appointed  by  our  Lord  for  y'  pur- 
pose. 

'•'■  It  saves  us,  as  it  is  a  pledge  of  ye  pardon  of  our  sins,  and  as   it  is   an 
assurance  of  our  redemption  and  salvation. 

"  And  thus  it  appears  y'  salvation  was  one  of  ye  grand  ends  of  ye  institu- 
tion of  this  sacrament." 

Thus  Dr.  Edwards,  of  Baptism,  p.  580,  vol.  i. 


24 

Under  this  substantial  heading  are  recorded  alphabetically 
an  extended  list  of  Baptisms  :  — 

Eg.,  under  the  letter  "A  "  are  registered  seventy-four  names, 
of  which  full  nine  tenths  are  that  of  "  Adams." 

Under  the  letter  "  B "  there  are  seventy-nine  recorded, 
among  which  we  find  the  names  Bucknam,  Baulch,  Bacon, 
Bullard,  Bullen,  Barbar,  Broad,  Boyden,  Bailey,  the  catalogue 
under  this  letter  closing  with  the  children  of  Adam  Bullard, 
named  Peggy,  Cyrus,  Jemima,  Adam,  and  Lois. 

Under  the  letter  "  C  "  are  entered  eighty-five,  and  nearly 
every  name  is  "  Clark."  There  occur  more  than  once  the 
familiar  names  of  Elijah  and  Abijah  and  Jotham  and  David  ; 
yet  none  of  these  are  the  ones  with  us  to-day. 

Under  the  letter  "  D "  are  the  names  of  seventy-three 
precious  infants,  brought  in  the  arms  of  parental  faith  and 
love  to  the  Baptismal  Font  ;  and  every  one  is  a  Daniell  or 
Daniels.  The  last  entry  made  here  is  this:  "Nov.,  1788,  was 
baptized  a  child  of  Jesse  Daniels,  named  Mary." 

Under  the  letter  "P"  are  a  hundred  and  thirteen  names 
recorded  ;  and  we  are  thus  assured  that  young  "  Partridges  " 
were  numerous  in  those  days. 

Thus  under  each  letter  is  an  extended  list.  And  I  find 
under  the  letter  "  N  "  these  entries  :  — 

'■^  Sept.  16,  1739.  ^  baptized  London  and  Sambo,  Negroes,  the  former, 
ye  negro  of  Jasper  Adams,  y^  latter,  ye  negro  of  Wm.  Burges." 

"  JVov.  2()fh,  1 741  I  baptized  Stephen  and  Charles,  negroes,  the  former 
ye  negro  of  Lieut.  Timothy  Clark,  ye  latter  ye  neg"^"  of  Capt.  Nath'  Whit- 
ing." 

April  2>°f/i,  1758.  I  baptized  Jethro,  a  mulatto,  the  servant  of  Thos. 
Harding." 

"Oct.  27///,  1782.     I  baptized  my  negro  woman,  Flora." 

This  Flora  was  baptized  under  the  Halfway  Covenant. 

Under  date  of, 

'■'■Dec.  loth,  1741.  Upon  ye  desire  of  Sam'  Harding  and  wife  to  have 
a  negro  child  baptized  W^  yf  had  took  in  its  infancy  for  yir  own.  It  was 
put  to  the  brethren,  whether,  they  thought  masters  and  mistresses  might 
offer  up  ye  servants  that  they  had  a  property  in,  in  their  minority,  and  they 
had  a  right  to  baptism  upon  y  account.     It  passed  in  the  negative." 


25 

The  entire  list  numbers  eight  hundred  and  thirty-three 
persons  who  received  baptism  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  at  the  hands  of  this  servant  of  God, 
Rev.  Nathan  Bucknam.  Then  follows  a  record  of  those  who 
were  "  received  into  covenant  and  put  themselves  under  y® 
watch  and  care  of  this  Church."  This  list  includes  a  hundred 
and  nineteen  persons  who  came  under  the  "  bonds  of  the  Cov- 
enant," and  received  Baptism  for  themselves  and  their  children. 
This  Halfway  Covenant,  adopted  by  the  Massachusetts 
Churches  in  1662,  continued  in  the  practice  of  this  Church 
for  eighty-five  years,  up  to  the  year  1800.  Nine  persons 
were  thus  admitted  to  the  early  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wright, 
making  the  whole  number  thus  recorded  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight. 

"  The  Covenant  propounded  to  those  that  come  iindir  the  Bonds 
of  the  Covenant,  read  as  follows :  — 

"You  are  now  in  full  communion  with  the  church  of  Christ,  purchased 
with  the  price  of  his  blood  ;  and  you  do  seriously,  freely  and  forever  in 
the  presence  of  God,  by  whom  you  expect  shortly  to  be  judged  and  by 
whom  you  hope  to  be  acquitted,  and  in  the  presence  of  an  innumerable 
company  of  elect  angels,  and  in  presence  of  this  assembly,  give  up 
yourself  to  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  avouching  the  Lord 
Jehovah  to  be  your  God.  You  give  up  yourself  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
as  unto  your  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King  for  ever,  promising  by  the  assist- 
ance of  tlie  Spirit  of  Grace  to  wall:  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordi- 
nances of  the  Lord  blameless,  answerable  to  the  high  and  holy  vocation 
wherewith  you  are  called.  You  give  up  yourself  and  posterity  to  this 
Church,  submitting  to  the  rule  and  discipline  of  it,  putting  yourself  under 
the  watch  and  care  of  it,  promising  to  embrace  counsels  and  reproofs  with 
humility  and  thankfulness.  You  promise  to  attend  the  worship  of  God 
with  us  so  long  as  Divine  Providence  shall  give  opportunity,  and  take  all 
possible  care  to  prepare  yourself  for  the  holy  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper,  and  when  you  have  reason  to  think  by  the  blessing  of  God.  upon 
your  diligent  endeavors,  you  are  in  some  good  measure  qualified  therefor 
you  will  renew  Covenant  with  God,  and  wait  upon  him  in  that  holy  insti- 
tution, and  walk  as  becomes  a  Ciiristian  in  all  holy  conversation  and 
godliness. 

"  This  is  what  you  consent  to  and  promise,  which  being  done,  it 
follows  — 


26 

"  We  the  Church  of  Christ  in  tliis  place  acknowledge  your  covenant 
relation  to  us,  and  do  take  you  under  our  Christian  watch  and  care,  prom- 
ising to  admit  you  to  all  these  privileges,  that  thus  your  sacred  relation 
doth  or  may  entitle  you  unto,  and  to  watcli  over  you  with  a  spirit  of  meek- 
ness, love  and  tenderness,  as  the  Gospel  enjoins  us,  and  to  continue  our 
ardent  prayer  to  the  God  of  all  grace  for  you  that  you  may  have  grace  to 
keep  this  covenant  that  you  have  in  so  solemn  a  manner  entered  into, 
that  the  sure  mercies  of  the  everlasting  covenant  may  be  your  portion. 

"  Amen." 

The  above  and  the  Covenant  propounded  to  those  who  are 
admitted  to  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  are  in  the 
same  handwriting,  but  without  date. 

"  George  Adams  and  his  wife,  Aug.  25,  1725,"  were  the  first 
persons  received  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam,  under  this  "  Half- 
way Covenant,"  and  the  last  person  thus  received  was  ad- 
mitted May  18,  1800,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  her  name  was 
Unice  Clark  ;  she  subsequently,  Jan.  29,  1809,  was  received 
into  the  Church,  by  accepting  the  Church  Covenant,  which  is 
recorded  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  Covenant  to  be  proponndcd  to  those  that  are  admitted 
to  the  Ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper:  — 

"  You  are  now  in  full  communion  with  the  Church  of  Christ,  purchased 
with  the  price  of  his  blood  :  and  you  do  seriously,  freely  and  forever  in 
the  presence  of  God,  by  whom  you  expect  shortly  to  be  judged,  and  by 
whom  you  hope  to  be  acquitted,  and  in  the  presence  of  an  innumerable 
company  of  Elect  Angels,  and  in  presence  of  this  assembly,  give  up  your- 
self to  God  the  Father  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  avouching  the  Lord  Jehovah 
to  be  your  God.  You  give  up  yourself  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  unto 
your  Prophet  Priest  and  King  forever,  promising  by  the  assistance  of  the 
Spirit  of  Grace  to  walk  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  blame- 
less answerable  to  the  high  &  holy  vocation  wherewith  you  are  called. 
You  give  up  yourself  and  posterity  to  this  Church,  submitting  to  the  rule 
and  Discipline  of  it,  putting  yourself  under  the  watch  and  care  of  it, 
promising  to  embrace  counsels  and  reproofs  with  humility  and  thankful- 
ness, and  daily  to  attend  the  ordinances  of  Christ  in  this  church  as  long 
as  your  opportunity  thereby  to  be  edified  in  your  holy  faith  shall  be  con- 
tinued to  you. 

This  you  promise. 

We,  then,  the  Church  of  Christ  in  this  place,  do  joyfully  and  charitably 
receive  you  into  our  sacred  fellowship  &  communion  as  one  whom  we 


27 

hope  and  trust  the  Lord  has  received  ;  and  we  promise  to  admit  you  to 
all  the  Ordinances  of  the  Gospel  in  fellowship  with  ourselves  and  to  watch 
over  you  witli  a  spirit  of  meekness  love  and  tenderness,  as  your  holy  re- 
lation unto  us  calls  for :  and  to  continue  our  ardent  prayers  to  the  God 
of  all  grace  for  you,  that  you  may  have  grace  to  keep  the  covenant  that 
you  have  now  in  so  solemn  a  manner,  before  Angels  and  us  entered  into 
tliat  the  sure  mercies  of  the  Everlasting  Covenant  may  be  your  portion. 
Amen. 

The  first  person  received  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  into  this 
Church  was  Samuel  Ellis,  under  date  of  April  i8,  1725  ;  and 
the  last  name  entered  upon  the  list  in  his  handwriting  is  re- 
corded thus,  "June  28,  1789,  was  admitted  into  this  Church, 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Daniel."  This  was  the  grandfather  of  the  late 
Dea.  Paul  Daniel  The  whole  number  received  into  the 
Church  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  exceeds  two  hundred. 

Some  records  of  the  doings  of  the  Church  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  is  made  under  this  heading :  — 

"The  Votes  and  Acts  of  y"^  Chh.  of  Christ  in  Medway. 

"  I,  Nathan  Bucknam,  was  ordained  Pastor  of  y''  Chh.  Decem- 
ber 23,  1724." 

The  items  of  business  transacted  by  the  Church  in  this  long 
period  are  all  recorded  in  less  than  seven  pages  of  the  old 
Record  Book,  and  pertain  mostly  to  the  election  of  Deacons 
and  some  three  or  four  cases  of  Church  Discipline,  and  few 
other  matters  of  Covenant  and  Church  regulation. 

There  were  no  less  than  thirteen  Deacons  chosen  while  Rev 
Mr.  Bucknam  was  pastor.  At  the  first  Church  Meeting  after 
his  ordination,  Jan.  12,  1725,  the  record  reads, — 

"John  Partridge  was  made  choice  of  for  y"  first  Deacon.  At  y'  same 
meeting  also  Ebenezer  Thompson  was  chosen  Deacon."  "  At  y'  same 
meeting  likewise  put  to  vote,  whether  y'  sacrament  of  y°  Lord's  Supper 
should  be  administered  in  y'  Chh.  every  two  months.  It  past  in  y' affirma- 
tive." 

The  practice  of  this  Church  is  still  in  accordance  with  this 
vote. 

No  other  matter  except  the  choice  of  Deacons  seems  to  have 


28 

come  up  for  action  before  the  Church  until  "Afril  \2,  1734, 
after  Lecture  y''  Chh.  was  stayed  upon  y'^  uneasiness  of"  a  cer- 
tain brother  at  the  way  the  Pastor  administered  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  was  his  custom  to  vary  from  the 
exact  words  of  the  Scriptures,  and  make  some  remarks  at  the 
table.  This  liberty  troubled  one  brother,  and  he  brought  it 
before  the  Church,  and  a  vote  was  taken  and  the  course  of  the 
Pastor  sustained  by  the  lifted  hands  of  every  voting  member 
except  the  complainant.  Record  is  made  of  a  very  solemn 
meeting  of  the  Chh.  Oct.  8,  1736  (one  hundred  and  forty  years 
ago).  The  meeting  was  held  in  the  meeting-house,  and  the 
great  body  of  the  Church  was  present.  After  fervent  prayer 
was  offered, 

"  Every  one  present  set  their  hands  to  ye  covenant  in  which  cove- 
nant in  y«  3<i  particular,  there  is  mention  made  of  our  walking  as  a 
particular  Congregational  Church  of  Christ  &c.  and  it  is  here  to  be 
observed  y'  before  y®  signing  of  this  covenant  I  declared  over  and  over 
in  ye  presence  of  y^  Church,  that  by  this  I  would  not  be  understood  to 
oblige  myself  to  go  in  every  particular,  according  to  y"  platform,  and  par- 
ticularly to  have  lay  Ruling  Elders  but,  principally,  y'  ye  vote  of  y*  breth- 
ren should  be  asked  and  took  in  every  thing  y*  belonged  to  you  and 
y*  there  could  be  no  valid  act  in  ye  Church  without  y"  consent  of  ye  major 
part  of  the  brethren,  and  upon  this  condition  and  according  to  this  expla- 
nation of  y'  expression,  signed  it  with  y'  brethren." 

This  shows  us  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam's  Congregationalism. 

The  Church  Covenant  here  referred  to,  with  signatures  at- 
tached, is  not  probably  in  existence,  but  was  doubtless  iden- 
tical, or  nearly  so,  with  the  Covenant  under  which,  fourteen 
years  after,  Oct.  4,  1750,  "y*  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  gathered 
a  Church  and  pronounced  them  the  Second  Church  of  Christ 
in  Medway."  The  commencement  of  "Article  Third"  is  as 
follows  :  — 

"We  do  give  up  ourselves  to  one  another  in  the  Lord,  and  according 
to  the  will  of  God  freely  covenanting  and  binding  ourselves  to  walk 
together  as  a  particular  congregational  Chh.  of  Christ  in  doctrine  and 
discipline,"  etc. 

Vide  Church  Records  of  Medway,  West  Precinct. 


29 

This  public  renewal  of  Covenant,  by  each  one  subscribing 
with  his  own  hand,  made  the  occasion  one  of  deep  solemnity. 
And  to  this  act,  Rev.  Mr.  Wright  credits  largely  the  deepened 
spirituality  in  the  Church  that  followed,  and  which  developed 
into  a  revival  of  religion  in  1741,  the  most  marked  that  had 
hitherto  occurred  in  the  history  of  this  Church,  the  results 
of  which  were  the  addition  of  some  fifty  persons  to*its  mem- 
bership. 

The  additions  to  the  Church  and  the  increased  spiritual 
strength,  with  an  increased  population,  led  doubtless  to  the 
formation  of 

THE    SECOND    CHURCH    OF    CHRIST. 

It  appears,  that  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  Rev.  Mr.  Buck- 
nam's  ministry  a  movement  was  made  to  constitute  a  Second 
Precinct  in  the  westerly  part  of  Medway.  This  was  owing  to 
the  great  inconvenience  to  which  the  people  there  were  sub- 
jected in  attending  public  worship  at  the  old  Church,  there  then 
being  no  road  directly  across  the  Black  Swamp,  so  called,  and 
on  petition  they  were  granted  an  Act  of  Incorporation  under 
the  name  of  the  West  Precinct  of  Medway,  Dec.  29,  1748. 
This  West  Precinct  embraced  what  was  known  as  the  New 
Grant,  and  small  parts  of  the  adjacent  towns  of  Wrentham, 
Bellingham,  and  Holliston. 

The  West  Precinct  being  established,  steps  were  immediately 
taken  to  build  a  Meeting-house  ;  and  so  rapidly  was  the  work 
carried  forward  that  the  West  Precinct  Meeting-house  was 
raised  on  Thursday,  April  6,  1749.  This  was  just  three  weeks 
before  the  Second  Meeting-house  was  raised  in  the  East  Precinct. 
The  buildings  were  about  the  same  size  and  in  much  the  same 
style  "  They  were  originally,"  says  Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  "  very 
decent  and  commodious  buildings  ;  and  at  the  time  they  were 
erected  were  considered  the  most  elegant  houses  of  public 
worship  in  this  vicinity."  They  were  built  without  steeples, 
and  both  their  external  and  internal  resemblance  to  each  other 


30 

was  considered  very  striking.  How  soon  public  religious  serv- 
ice was  held  in  the  new  Church  of  the  West  Precinct  I  am  not 
informed.  But  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  enterprise,  and  the  Second  Church  was  gathered 
by  him. 

It  appears  that  Oct.  4,  1750,  was  a  day  set  apart  for  Fasting 
and  Pra/er,  and  the  record  is,  "After  exercise  y*^  Rev.  Mr. 
Bucknam  gathered  a  Church  and  pronounced  them  the  Second 
Church  of  Christ  in  Medway." 

On  the  8th  of  October  the  new  Church  met  and  chose  one 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Whiting  for  their  moderator  till  they  should 
have  a  minister  ordained.  At  this  meeting  a  call  was  extended 
to  a  Mr.  Jonathan  Derby  to  become  their  minister.  This  call 
Mr.  Derby  declined.  The  next  April  (8th),  175  i,  Mr.  Samuel 
Haven  was  called  to  settle.  He  also  declined.  And  Feb.  14, 
1752,  an  invitation  was  extended  to  Rev.  David  Thurston,  who 
returned  his  answer  of  acceptance,  dated  April  29,  1752,  and 
was  accordingly  ordained  the  first  pastor  of  the  Second  Church 
of  Christ  in  Medway,  June  23,  1752. 

Rev.  Nathan  Bucknam  preached  the  Ordination  Sermon. 
Rev.  Mr.  Thurston  was  a  native  of  Wrentham,  and  graduated 
at  Princetown.  He  remained  Pastor  of  the  Second  Church  for 
a  period  of  seventeen  years,  when,  at  his  own  request,  by  rea- 
son of  ill  health,  he  was  dismissed  June  22,  1769.  After  his 
dismission  Mr.  Thurston  retired  from  the  ministry,  and  settled 
upon  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Oxford  ;  he  subsequently  removed 
to  Auburn,  and  afterwards  to  Sutton,  where  he  died,  May  5, 
1777,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years. 

During  this  first  pastorate  there  were  seventy -nine  persons 
added  to  the  Church,  and  twenty-three  came  under  the  bonds 
of  the  Covenant.  In  a  brief  biographical  notice  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Thurston,  Rev.  Mr.  Blake  says, — 

"  No  materials  are  in  our  possession  for  forming  an  opinion 
of  Mr.  Thurston's  literary  abilities.  He  is  remembered  as  not 
efficient  enough   to  combat  and  overcome  the  difficulties  in 


31 

his  infant  Church.  He  yielded  to  them,  and  escaped  by- 
resignation.  No  writings  of  his  are  known  to  exist  as  an 
index  to  his  attainments  as  a  theologian  or  skill  as  a  preacher." 
(See  Hist,  of  Mendon  Assoc) 

In  the  autumn  following  Rev." Mr.  Thurston's  resignation, 
Oct.  23,  1769,  the  Church  invited  Mr.  Samuel  Wales  to  become 
their  Pastor,  \vho  declined  Jan.  22,  1770.  The  next* October 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Niles  was  called,  who  also  declined.  Rev. 
Mr.  Niles  was  afterwards  for  many  years  tlie  somewhat  emi- 
nent minister  at  Abington. 

Oct.  19,  1772,  the  Church  summoned  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  and 
some  other  neighboring  ministers  to  revise  their  Covenant  and 
submit  it  for  their  adoption  ;  and  the  Covenant,  as  revised,  was 
adopted  by  the  Church.  Dec.  14  following,  having  been  desti- 
tute of  a  settled  pastor  for  more  than  three  years,  an  invitation 
was  given  to  Mr.  David  Sanford,  who  accepted,  under  date  of 
Feb  13,  1773,  was  ordained  April  14,  1773,  and  became  the 
second  Pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  West,  of  Stockbridge,  preached  the 
Sermon  of  Ordination.  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  was  a  native  of  New 
Milford,  Conn.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1755.  He 
commenced  the  study  of  Divinity  with  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  but 
completed  it  with  Rev.  Dr.  Hopkins,  who  was  his  brother-in-law. 
At  the  age  of  thirty-si.x  he  was  settled  in  Medway.  During 
the  Revolutionary  War  he  was  appointed  Chaplain  in  the  army, 
and  served  for  a  short  time.  While  in  the  active  duties  of  the 
pastorate  he  received  a  stroke  of  paralysis  in  1807,  which  ter- 
minated his  public  labors  ;  and  after  some  three  years  of  pain- 
ful illness  he  died  April  7,  18 10,  in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of 
his  ministry  and  the  seventy-third  of  his  life.  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford 
was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance,  with  sharp,  piercing 
eyes,  commanding  presence,  and  strong,  clear  voice.  He  was 
possessed  of  rare  abilities,  well-learned  in  the  Scriptures,  and 
was  eminent  as  a  preacher.  He  was  a  power  in  his  own  Church 
and  in  the  region.  He  usually  preached  without  written  notes 
and  swayed  his  audience  at  will. 


32 

In  1775  the  Second  Church  abolished  the  practice  of  the  Half- 
way Covenant ;  in  1776  adopted  a  written  Confession  of  Faith  ; 
and  Feb.  8,  1776,  held  a  somewhat  remarkable  meeting  for  the 
confession  of  sins.  In  this  confession,  which  was  drawn  up  in 
writing,  the  Church  confessed  the  following  sins  :  — 

"  (i.)  The  Halfway  Covenant  ;  (2.)  The  neglect  of  Christian 
watchfulness  ;  (3.)  The  neglect  of  the  Discipline  of  the  Church  ; 
(4.)  The  neglect  of  the  Means  of  Grace."  The  influence  of  this 
meeting  was  most  favorable.  In  the  course  of  Mr.  Sanford's 
ministry  several  seasons  of  Revival  interest  were  enjoyed.  In 
the  winter  of  1784  about  one  hundred  were  brought  to  Christ. 
Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  was  to  some  extent  a  writer  of  articles  for 
publication. 

After  an  interim  of  some  four  years,  Rev,  Jacob  Ide,  of 
Attleborough,  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Second  Church, 
Nov.  2,  18  14.  Dr.  Woods,  of  Andover,  preached  the  Ordina- 
tion Sermon,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  of  the  First  Church,  gave 
the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship.  Rev.  Mr.  Ide  was  a  graduate  of 
Brown  University  in  1809,  studied  theology  at  Andover,  where 
he  graduated  in  18 12.  At  the  time  of  his  settlement  in  Med- 
way  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Emmons,  daughter  of  Dr.  Emmons  of  Franklin.  He 
and  his  wife  are  both  living.  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  is  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-one  years.  He  has,  beside  his  pastoral  labors, 
been  an  editor,  an  author,  and  a  teacher  of  theology  ;  some 
forty  persons  have  come  under  his  instructions  in  preparation 
for  the  Ministry. 

In  1832  Dr.  Ide  received  repeated  invitations  to  assume  the 
Chair  of  Theology  in  Bangor  Seminary,  but  although  urged 
very  persistently  to  accept  the  position,  he  finally  concluded 
to  remain  with  his  people.  Oct.  20,  1850,  Rev.  Dr.  Ide 
preached  a  "  Centennial  Sermon  of  the  Second  Church  of 
Christ,  in  Medway."  The  text  was,  "  Remember  thy  congre- 
gation, which  thou  hast  purchased  of  old  :  the  rod  of  thine  in- 
heritance .which  thou  hast  redeemed;  this  mount  Zion,  wherein 


33 

thou  hast  dwelt."  Ps.  74  :  2.  This  sermon  the  Church  voted  to 
pubHsh,  but  I  have  never  been  so  fortunate  as  to  see  a  copy. 

After  an  active  pastorate  of  some  fifty  years  Rev.  Dr.  Ide 
retired  from  public  service,  and  in  1865  Rev.  Stephen  Knovvl- 
ton  was  settled  Colleague  Pastor. 

The  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Knovvlton  was  one  of  no  ordinary 
ability,  and  greatly  blessed.  His  preaching  was  with  power,  and 
many  were  brought  to  receive  Christ  as  their  Saviour.  He 
met  some  embarrassments,  which  his  successors  have  not  en- 
countered After  a  pastorate  of  some  seven  years  he  received 
an  invitation  to  another  field  of  labor,  and  resigned  in  order 
to  its  acceptance,  and  was  dismissed  Nov  20,  1872. 

He  was  succeeded,  the  following  May  7,  1873,  by  Rev.  S. 
W.  Segur,  who,  after  a  short  but  efficient  ministry,  died  in 
the  midst  of  great  usefulness,  Sept.  24,  1875,  universally  be. 
loved  and  lamented.  The  present  Junior  Pastor,  Rev.  James 
M.  Bell,  was  installed  Sept.  26,  1876,  in  whom  the  hearts  of 
the  people  seem  happily  united,  and  he  has  entered  upon  a 
ministry  of  great  promise,  bringing  to  it  a  ripened  experience 
and  unquestioned  ability. 

The  Second  Church  of  Christ  in  a  period  of  a  hundred  and 
twenty-six  years  has  settled  six  Pastors,  elected  ten  Deacons, 
and  for  some  years  has  had  the  largest  membership  of  any 
Church  in  the  town.  It  is  a  daughter  of  which  the  mother 
Church  has  occasion  to-day  to  be  proud. 

THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    FIRST    CHURCH    RESUMED. 

It  is  evident  from  the  Records  that  the  members  acted  in 
harmony,  and  sustained,  with  great  unanimity,  their  Pastor, 
Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam,  throughout  his  long  ministry. 

The  very  few  cases  of  discipline  that  came  up  were  treated 
with  great  candor  and  consideration,  in  the  interest  of  the 
right  and  for  the  purity  and  good  name  of  the  Church. 

More  than  twenty  years  passed,  and  no  member  was 
arraigned  for  misconduct ;  the  first  case  of  discipline  was 
s 


34 

that  of  a  member  received  from  another  Church  by  letter. 
Cases  of  discipline  were  not  infrequent  from  laxity  in  this 
matter,  as  is  too  often  the  case  now,  but  because  the  mem- 
bers were  received  with  great  care,  and  felt  responsible  for 
a  Christian  life,  without  reproach,  for  the  sake  of  Christ  and 
the  honor  of  the  Church. 

To  illustrate  the  strictness  of  those  times  :  The  charge  was 
brought  and  sustained  against  a  certain  brother,  of  dese- 
crating the  Sabbath,  and  he  was  denied  all  Church  privileges 
until  he  had  given  signs  of  true  repentance  of  his  sin,  and  had 
made  a  public  confession  of  the  same  before  the  Church  in 
the  presence  of  the  whole  congregation.  A  dozen  years  after, 
another  case  was  introduced,  in  which  there  was  a  dispute  in 
regard  to  an  account ;  and  the  charge  was  "  the  false  entry  of 
one  dollar."  This  case  gave  occasion  for  four  different  meet- 
ings, and  occupied  the  attention  of  the  Church  for  a  year  and 
a  half,  and  was  finally  disposed  of  by  the  public  payment  of 
the  one  dollar  to  the  complainant,  and  the  mutual  confession 
and  Christian  forgiveness  of  the  concerned  parties.  I  think 
there  were  but  two  other  cases  in  the  whole  period  ;  one  was, 
that  of  a  member  taking  personal  exception  to  some  other 
member,  and  on  that  account  absenting  himself  from  the  Com- 
munion ;  and,  on  asking  the  privilege,  was  allowed  to  com- 
mune for  a  season  with  some  other  Church,  in  the  hope  that 
he  would  very  soon  become  reconciled  to  his  brother,  which 
proved  to  be  true 

The  only  remaining  matter,  which  seriously  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  Church,  and  was  recorded  by  Mr.  Bucknam, 
was  the  admission  of  certain  persons,  who  were  at  the  time 
under  the  censure  of  the  Second  Church  of  Christ,  to  which 
they  belonged. 

We  find  under  date  of  "  April  3d,  1778,"  the  following  entry, 
"  Stayed  the  Church  after  Lecture,  read  the  petition  of 
Dea"  Sam'l  Fisher,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Pond  and  several  sisters 
of  the  other  Chh.  in   this  Town,  desiring   they  may  have  the 


33 

favour  and  liberty  of  enjoying  christian  privileges  with  us, 
the  First  Chh.  of  Christ  in  said  Medway."  These  persons,  it 
appears,  had  become  disaffected  from  the  time  of  his  settle- 
ment with  the  Pastor  of  the  Second  Church  because,  as  they 
say,  in  doctrines, 

"  r.   He  denies  imputative  guilt. 

2.  He  denies  imputative  righteousness,  and 

3.  He  makes  God  the  Author  of  sin." 

Hence  they  had  absented  themselves  from  the  Communion, 
and  were  under  censure  of  Excommunication.  They  had 
sought,  but  been  denied,  letters  to  some  other  Church  They 
had  called  an  ex  parte  Council,  and  by  their  advice  made 
request  to  be  received  to  this  Church. 

It  was  after  much  inquiry  and  deliberation,  that  their  request 
was  granted;  they  were  received,  Oct.  2,  1778.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  procedure,  after  some  correspondence,  the 
Second  Church  withdrew  fellowship  from  this  Church  ;  and 
so,  although  several  unsuccessful  attempts  were  made  to  re- 
store fellowship,  the  two  Churches,  mother  and  daughter,  lived 
estranged  for  a  period  of  thirty-two  years.  But  at  length,  while 
Rev.  Luther  Wright  was  Pastor,  and  largely  by  his  efforts, 
through  the  able  instrumentality  of  Revs.  Drs.  Prentiss  of 
Medfield,  and  Emmons,  of  Franklin,  the  breach  was  healed. 
The  Record  states  that  at  that  time  "  all  the  members  re- 
specting whom  the  controversy  originated  are  gone  to  stand 
at  a  higher  tribunal  than  earth  affords  ;  that  the  members 
of  the  churches  are  completely  changed."  It  was,  by  advice 
of  the  above-named  clergymen,  finally  agreed  by  the  two 
Churches  "  that  without  demanding  concessions  on  either 
part  they  embrace  each  other  in  Church  fellowship,  in  a 
spirit  of  love  &  tenderness."  And  thus  a  complete  recon- 
ciliation was  reached,  March  11,  1810,  at  which  date  the 
First  Church  writes  to  the  Second  Church  thus:  — 

"  And  now,  brethren,  we  commend  you  and  ourselves  to  God,  and  to 
the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  us  up  and  to  give  us  an  in- 


36 

heritance  among  all  them  which  are  sanctified,  imploring  the  divine 
guidance  and  direction  that  we  may  receive  each  other  as  becometh 
saints  ;  that  we  may  walk  together  in  the  unity,  faith  and  hope  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ.  Finally,  brethren,  let  us  feel  the  weight,  and  live  under 
the  influence  of  this  Apostolic  direction,  'Be  perfect,  be  of  good  com- 
fort, be  of  one  mind,  live  in  peace,  &  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be 
with  you.'  " 

"  In  behalf  of  y'  church, 
(Signed)  Your  servant  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  y'  Gospel, 

Luther  Wright,  Pastor." 

Thus  a  breach  which  was  made  in  1778,  thirty-two  years  be- 
fore, was  healed  to  the  joyful  satisfaction  of  all  persons  in 
both  the  Churches,  fellowship  and  communion  were  restored, 
never  again,  as  we  trust,  to  be  disturbed. 

NOON    HOUSE. 

Shortly  after  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam's  settlement,  about  the 
year  1730,  it  appears  that  there  was  a  subscription  raised  for 
the  purpose  as  expressed,  "To  erect  an  house  fifteen  feet 
square  in  some  convenient  place  near  the  meeting-house  for 
our  convenience  on  y"  Sabbath  between  meetings."  This 
subscription  paper  was  headed  by  "  Jonathan  Plympton, 
;^3— OS— od." 

This  building  was  boarded  on  three  sides,  being  open 
toward  the  south  ;  in  the  centre  was  a  large,  flat  stone,  on 
which  in  cold  weather  a  fire  was  kindled,  there  being  an 
opening  in  the  roof  overhead  for  the  smoke  to  escape ;  and  all 
around  were  pine  benches,  where  the  people  sat  and  ate  their 
Sabbath  lunch.     This  was  called  the  Noon  House. 

This  old  Noon  House  or  one  like  it  was  standing  in  18 16, 
which  is  within  the  memory  of  persons  now  living.  It  was  at 
length  superseded  by  a  Parish  House,  erected  in  1822. 

After  the  burning  of  the  first  meeting-house,  January,  1749, 
public  worship  was  conducted  for  a  time  in  the  dwelling-house 
of  Capt.  Joseph  Lovell,  Esq.  The  people,  however,  took  im- 
mediate steps  to  rebuild. 


Z7 


1 749 SECOND    MEETING-HOUSE  —  1 8  1 6. 

Hitherto  the  town  had  transacted  the  secular  business  of 
the  Church,  but  now,  by  a  warrant  issued  under  authority 
of  King  George  II,  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  reign, 
to  one  Samuel  Harding,  Esq.,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of 
this  part  of  the  town  was  called,  and  the  First  Precinct 
in  Medway  was  organized  Feb.  3,  1749.  At  this  first 
meeting  Samuel  Harding,  Esq.,  being  chosen  moderator  and 
precinct  clerk : 

It  was  "Voted  to  build  a  meeting-house  for  the  public 
worship  of  God."  "  Then  voted  to  choose  five  men  to  be  a 
committee  to  manage  the  affair  of  building  said  house,  viz. : 
1st,  Sam'  Harding;  2d,  Dea.  Thomas  Harding;  3d,  Lieut. 
Timothy  Clark  ;  4th,  Ensg"  Joseph  Richardson  ;  5th,  Jona. 
Adams,  ]\f.  Voted  1600  pound  old  tenor  to  be  assessed* on 
polls  &  estates  in  said  First  Precinct,  towards  building  said 
house."  This  sum  was  about  ^213  lawful  money  or  $1,000 
our  currency. 

The  First  Precinct,  under  date  of 

"April  5,  1749,  Voted,  That  y^  committee  should  build  the  meeting- 
house 42  feet  long  &  33  feet  in  width  and  twenty  feet  high  between 
joynts."  "  Voted  that  the  said  meeting-house  shall  be  raised  about 
y«  width  of  y*^  house,  toward  y<^  North  from  ye  spot  of  land  where  y''  old 
meeting-house  stood." 

It  is  said  that  Adam  Bullard,  Esq.,  lies  buried  just  where 

were  the  steps  at  the  entrance  to  this  second  meeting-house. 

It  was  further, 

"  Voted,  that  ye  provision  that  is  to  be  made  for  ye  raising  said  meet- 
ing-house shall  be  by  a  free  contribution,  then  voted  that  Samuel  Ellis, 
Dea.  Barbar,  Joshua  Partridge  and  Samuel  Hill,  shall  take  care  that  there 
shall  be  an  equal  or  suitable  quantity  of  Cyder,  Rum  &  Beer  brought  to 
said  house  and  a  baiting  bitt  for  the  men  before  the  Raising  be  finished." 

The  raising  of  this  meeting-house  came  off  on  Thursday, 
April  27,  1749.  The  old  house  was  burned  the  1 8th  of  the 
previous  January  ;    and  thus,  in  a  little  over  three  months, 


38 

the  trees  that  were  standing  in  the  forests  were  felled,  drawn 
to  the  spot,  hewn  into  timber,  framed,  and  raised  into  a 
meeting-house,  about  a  half  larger  than  its  predecessor.  The 
2 1  St  of  May  following,  just  three  weeks  from  the  Sabbath 
next  after  the  raising,  the  people  gathered  for  public  worship, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  preached  for  the  first  time  in  the 
new  meeting-house.  Yet  it  was  not  finished ;  and  while 
everything,  so  far,  had  gone  on  very  harmoniously  and  with 
such  dispatch,  there  was  yet  to  come  up  quite  a  division 
of  feeling  and  considerable  delay  before  the  house  was  com- 
pleted. The  question  arose,  "  whether  y"  Precinct  will  have 
an  Alley  three  feet  and  a  half  wide  straight  from  the  great 
double  doors  to  the  Pulpit "  in  their  new  house.  At  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Precinct  to  consider  this  weighty  mat- 
ter, they  voted  not  to  have  it.  Another  meeting  was  called, 
and  they  voted  to  have  the  "  alley."  Then  a  meeting  was 
called  to  reconsider.  There  was  great  excitement  through 
the  Precinct,  meeting  after  meeting  held  ;  finally,  at  a  crowded 
meeting,  they  polled  the  house.  All  in  favor  went  to  one 
side,  all  opposed,  to  the  other,  until  counted  ;  it  was  found 
that  there  were  twenty-seven  in  favor  of  the  alley,  and 
twenty-two  opposed  to  it  ;  thus,  after  a  year's  delay,  great 
stir,  much  talk  and  many  meetings,  it  was  decided  ;  and 
the  alley  was  made  "from  the  great  double  doors  straight 
to  the  pulpit." 

The  seating  of  the  new  meeting-house  was  given  in  charge 
of  a  committee,  who  were  to  make  allowance  between  age  and 
estate  according  to  their  best  judgment.  In  1766  Moses 
Richardson,  Elijah  Clark,  and  Jonathan  Adams  were  in- 
structed to  "  seat  the  meeting-house  one  pound  of  estate  to  a 
year's  age  as  near  as  may  be." 

About  ten  years  after  the  house  was  built,  the  Precinct 
appropriated  "  three  pounds  and  eighteen  shillings  to  be  laid 
out  in  coloring  and  repairing  the  meeting-house."  For  some 
number  of  years  they  paid  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  "  for  his  negro 


39 

woman  keeping  the  meeting-house,  9s.  4d."      In  1769  special 
seats  were  built  for  the  negroes  to  sit  in.      April  30,  1770, 

"  Put  to  vote  to  see  if  it  be  the  minds  of  the  Precinct,  That  tlie  new 
seats  built  for  the  Negros  at  each  end  of  the  Public  meeting-house  in 
said  Precinct  below,  shall  be  the  seats,  and  the  only  seats,  in  the  s<i  meet- 
ing-house for  the  Mulattoes,  Negros,  anrl  Indians  of  this  Precinct  to  sit 
in,  in  times  of  Divine  Service,  during  the  Precinct's  pleasure." 
"  Resolved  in  tlie  affirmative." 

"  Put  to  vote,  to  see  if  it  be  the  minds  of  the  Precinct  to  prohibit  the 
Mulattoes,  Negros,  &  Indians  of  this  precinct,  sitting  or  standing  in 
any  of  the  allies  or  on  the  stairs   of  the  s''  meeting-house   in   times   of 

Divine  Service." 

'^  Resolved  in  y''  affirmative." 

"  Put  to  vote  to  see  if  it  be  the  minds  of  the  Precinct  to  choose  a  com- 
mittee of  three  men,  to  inform  the  masters  of  the  Negros  Mulattoes 
&  Indians  of  this  Precinct,  of  the  above  mentioned  votes  &  resolves 
and  to  desire  them  in  the  name  of  the  Precinct  to  conform  themselves 
thereunto  and  to  order  their  servants  into  the  seats  built  and  provided  for 
them." 

"  Resolved  in  y*"  affirmative." 

"Jonathan  Adams  Cap'.  Jona.  .'\dams,  and  Isaiah  Morse  was  unani- 
mously chosen  for  the  s^  Committee.  .  ." 

"  Put  to  vote  to  see  if  the  Precinct  will  choose  a  committee  of  three 
men  to  prosecute  the  disobedience  or  non  observance  of  the  afore  men- 
tioned votes  &  resolves  of  this  Precinct  relating  to  the  Mulattoes, 
Negros  &c." 

"  Resolved  in  the  affirmative." 

"  Adjourned  to  last  Wednesday  in  May,  1770,"  at  which  time  "  Moses 
Richardson  Oliver  Adams  and  Jonathan  Adams  yo  3d  was  chosen  for  the 
s^  committee. 

Then  the  sd  inhabitants  granted  the  sum  of  38^  —  os  —  od  for  the 
necessary  charge  of  the  s^i  committee." 

The  following  autograph  receipt  is  extant :  — 

"  Medvvay,  June  18,  1736.     Received  of  Jasper  Adams  the  sum  of  one 

hundred  and  forty  pounds  for  a  negro  boy  named  London,  being  in'full. 

^{^140 — o — o.  Per  me, 

Nathan  Bucknam." 

This  was  in  New  England,  nay,  in  Medway,  a  little  more 
than  a  hundred  years  ago  ! 

At  the  time  of  his  settlement,  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  was  un- 
married ;  but  after  laboring  here  some  four  or  five  years,  he 


40 

brought  to  Medway  a  wife,  in  the  person  of  a  lady  of  culture 
and  accomplishment,  two  years  younger  than  himself.  From 
whence  she  came  and  her  maiden  name  are  not  ascertained. 
To  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Bucknam  were  born  nine  children,  two 
sons  and  seven  daughters.  Their  names,  in  order  of  birth, 
were,  Anna,  Nathan,  Margaret,  Mary,  Samuel,  Elizabeth, 
Catharine,  Sarah,  and  Lucy.  All  were  baptized  in  infancy. 
The  sons  died  young.  The  daughters,  that  lived  to  grow  up, 
all  united  with  the  Church  and  were  married  well.  One  of 
them  married  Dea.  Asa  Ellis,  who  removed  to  Western,  now 
Warren.  With  the  enlargement  of  his  family  it  was  not 
strange  that  the  "  ninety  pounds  a  year"  was  found  a  small 
salary,  and  especially,  as  articles  of  family  use  grew  much 
higher  in  price.  As  years  wore  on  it  became  beautifully,  or 
rather,  sadly  less  ;  at  length  Mr.  Bucknam  made  bold  to  com- 
municate with  the  town  on  this  subject.  I  have  in  hand  the 
original  document,  dated  April  24,  1736,  and  signed  "  Nathan 
Bucknam,"  by  which  he  made  request  as  follows  :  — 

"  Mr.  Daniel," 

"  Be  pleased  to  put  it  into  your  warrant  for  May  meeting  that  it  is  my 
desire  that  the  Town  would  take  into  consideration  the  circumstances  of 
things  and  allow  me  something  more  for  my  support,  in  some  way  which 
they  shall  tliink  most  suitable  and  best,  what  they  have  already  granted 
being  altogether  insufficient  as  the  times  now  are. 

Medway  April  24.  1736.         yours  to  serve,  Nathan  Bucknam." 

"  To  be  communicated  to  the  rest  of  ye  select  men." 

Some  ten  years  later  the  good  man  pours  out  his  burdened 

and  troubled  soul  thuswise  and  heroically.* 

"  Christian  Friends  &  Brethren.  It  is  a  great  Grief  &  burden  to  me 
to  have  the  affair  of  my  salary  or  support  come  so  often  into  agitation 
which  is  so  unacceptable  to  you.  I  am  not  in  the  least  measure  disposed 
to  contend  with  you,  but  I  would  remind  you  of  and  propose  to  you  a  few 
things  with  relation  to  the  matter  before  you,  which  I    trust  I  may  do 

*  This  original  document  within  a  few  days  came  to  light  among  old  papers  in 

the  attic  of  one  of  our  ancient  homes. 


41 

without  giving  any  just  matter  of  offence  —  And  in  the  first  place,  I  would 
remind  vou  that  at  my  first  treating  with  this  Town  as  to  my  settlement 
and  support  among  them,  I  considered  that  the  then  smallness  &  weak- 
ness, and  such  as  were  concerned  in  Town  affairs  at  that  Day,  can't  but 
be  sensible  that  I  accepted  of  a  small  salary  for  that  time  &  for  much  less 
than  they  could  obtain  a  Gentleman  for,  which  they  invited  to  settle 
among  them  before  I  came,  and  for  considerable  less  than  was  adjudged 
to  be  sufficient  salary  for  a  minister  in  a  family  state,  by  such  as  were 
most  capable  of  determining  such  an  affair  —  and  as  oft  as  I  have  laid  the 
matter  before  the  Town,  my  desires,  I  think,  have  been  always  just,  rea- 
sonable and  moderate  (as  maybe  made  to  appear  to  Unprejudiced  Judges) 
—  and  now  once  more  I  send  to  you  that  have  power  to  transact  Town 
affairs,  the  following  proposals,  which  I  think,  to  be  so  highly  just  and 
reasonable  that  Every  man  that  has  attained  so  far  as  to  Moral  Honesty, 
must  comply  with  —  viz  — •  Either  first  that  the  Town  chuse  a  Committee 
of  three  or  five  of  as  Solid,  Judicious  and  Intelligent  men  as  any  you 
have  among  you,  who  shall  Engage  to  be  faithful  in  searching  out  and 
acquainting  themselves  as  thoroughly  as  may  be  with  the  price  of  the 
most  Material  Articles  of  Livelihood  of  food  and  raiment,  and  find  as 
nigh  as  they  can  the  disproportion  of  the  prices  from  the  time  of  my 
settlement  and  the  present,  to  lay  before  the  Town  at  May  Meeting  for 
their  acceptance,  which  when  well  &  duely  proportioned,  I  will  sink  as 
much  out  of,  as  any  one  man  in  the  Town  pays  to  God  and  the  Country  — 
or  secondly  to  leave  what  the  disportion  of  things  are  from  my  selling  till 
now,  and  so  what  I  ought  to  have,  to  impartial  or  disinterested  men 
mutually  chosen  by  the  Town  &  myself  —  Every  thing  bares  such  a 
demand  that  I  find  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  something  be  done 
in  this  affair  or  I  must  unavoidably  sink  and  come  to  nothing  —  If  the 
Town  don't  see  good  to  Comply  with  Either  of  these  proposals  or  to  make 
any  to  me  that  I  can  accept  of,  you  will  drive  me  to  Commit  the  affair 
where  I  trust  solid  reason  will  be  heard.  Every  Conclusive  Argument  have 
its  weight  and  Justice  be  Awarded,  which  is  all  I  seek,  and  should  be  glad 
to  have  this  done  in  a  more  private  manner,  but  if  that  can't  be  — Those 
that  are  the  cause  of  a  more  publick  process,  I  hope  will  bear  the  blame, 
for  I  assure  you  it  is  no  ways  agreeable  to  me,  and  I  believe  will  not  be 
profitable  to  you  —  I  would  therefore  advise  &  Entreat  you  to  look  upon 
it  as  a  matter  of  weight  and  Importance,  a  matter  in  which  Religion  and 
Conscience  are  concerned  and  well  worthy  of  your  most  serious  Consider- 
ation least  you  offend  God  and  do  iniquity —  I  wish  you  the  Divine  pres- 
ence and  Conduct  in  this,  as  also  in  all  your  affairs.  That  Peace,  Truth 
and  Righteousness  may  ever  attend  you  is  the  Earnest  desire  of  your 
sincere  Friend  &  Servant  of  your  Souls, 

Nathan    Buckxam. 
"March  9th  1746/' 

6 


42 

What  action  the  town  took  on  receipt  of  this  particular 
communiration  I  do  not  know.  But  they  were  often  called  to 
vote  upon  the  matter  of  salary,  and  especially  as  money  depre- 
ciated;  for  in  1757  it  took  seven  pounds  and  a  half  to  make 
one  pound  of  lawful  money.  The  salary  voted  Mr.  Bucknam 
in  1780  was  £780,  not  far  from  $4,000  our  currency,  but 
actually  worth  less  than  $500. 

But  this  matter  of  minister's  salary  finally  settled  down 
upon  a  basis  of  about  "  sixty  pounds  lawful  money." 

In  1788  Mr.  Bucknam  had  a  Colleague,  when  he  relin- 
quished his  salary  for  an  annuity  of  fifteen  pounds,  which  he 
receipted  for  with  his  own  hand  on  the  Parish  Book,  the  last 
time,  March  12,  1791,  in  the  eighty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

In  the  summer  of  1778  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  was  out  of 
health,  and  unable  to  preach  for  several  months ;  and  the 
Parish  supplied  the  pulpit  at  their  own  expense. 

When  past  eighty-two  years  of  age,  he  arranged  with  the 
Parish  to  settle  a  Colleague,  and  terminated  his  active  ministry 
in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his  pastorate.  May  14,  1786. 

Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  preached  his  Farewell  Sermon  from  the 
text,  Jeremiah  vi. :  16:  "Thus  saith  the  Lord,  stand  ye  in  the 
ways  and  see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the  good 
way,  and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your  souls  ; " 
and  closed  the  solemnity  by  singing  the  12  2d  Psalm  (Tate  and 
Brady's  Version), 

"Oh,  'twas  a  joyful  sound  to  hear,"  etc. 

Of  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam's  qualities  and  labors  as  a  minister, 
it  appears  that  he  held  and  preached  unequivocally  and  earn- 
estly the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  He  was  a  man  of 
quick  impulses.  "  He  sometimes,"  says  Mr.  Wright,  "  spoke 
unadvisedly  with  his  lips,  under  excited  feelings,  but  was  soon 
calmed  and  gave  way  to  the  dictates  of  sober  reason  and 
religion." 

He  must  have  been  a  man  of  great  natural  and  acquired 
resources    and    of    wonderful   administrative   ability  to  have 


43 

retained  such  a  hold  upon  the  people,  and  to  have  led  the 
Church  harmoniously  through  so  many  years  of  active  min- 
istration. As  we  have  seen,  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  closed  his 
active  ministry  May  14,  1786;  but  he  still  retained  the  pas- 
toral relation  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  "  the  92*^  year 
of  his  age,  in  the  yi^^  year  of  his  ministry  and  the  67'*"  of  his 
married  life  on  Fryday  evening  February  6"'  1795." 

His  funeral  was  attended  on  the  following  Thursday,  Feb. 
12,  with  great  solemnity  and  respect.  The  procession  entered 
the  Meeting-house,  where  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Prentiss,  of  Med- 
field,  delivered  a  discourse  on  the  text,  2  Peter,  i  :  13-14:  "I 
think  it  meet,  as  long  as  I  am  in  this  tabernacle,  to  stir  you  up 
by  putting  you  in  remembrance ;  Knowing  that  shortly  I  must 
put  off  this  my  tabernacle,  even  as  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath 
shewed  me." 

"  The  discourse,"  says  Dea.  Clark,  of  that  day,  in  his  Diary, 
"  was  well  adapted  to  the  occasion.  Rev.  Jason  Haven,  of 
Dedham,  and  Rev.  Benjamin  Caryl,  of  Dover,  conducted  the 
devotional  service.  Afterwards  the  procession  proceeded  to 
the  grave,  from  thence  to  the  dwelling-house  ;  the  Church  walk- 
ing before  the  procession." 

Mrs.  Bucknam  survived  her  husband  only  a  little  more  than 
a  year.  She  died  on  Sabbath  evening.  May  i,  1796,  in  the 
ninety-first  year  of  her  age  ;  she  was  buried  on  the  next  Thurs- 
day. The  service  was  in  the  Meeting-house,  and  conducted  by 
Rev.  Jason  Haven  of  Dedham. 

There  are  numerous  traditional  reminiscences  of  the  old 
minister.  Rev.  Nathan  Bucknam,  still  rehearsed  in  the  Parish. 
An  attempt  was  once  made  to  poison  himself  and  family  by 
a  basket  of  meat,  left  on  his  door-step  at  evening;  but  his 
faithful  negress,  Flora,  being  suspicious  of  evil,  first  cooked  a 
piece  for  the  cat,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  the  pet  pussy  of 
the  minister's  ■  house  was  no  more.  When  Flora  told  her 
master  what  had  transpired,  Mr.  Bucknam  is  said  to  have 
replied  to  her,  "  I  shall  live  my  appointed  time."     It  is  said 


44 

that  to  the  close  of  his  hfe  he  took  his  food  from  a  pewter 
plate. 

He  was  proverbially  an  honest  man,  and  so  taught  his 
people  ;  and  to  this  day,  people  say,  "  As  honest  as  t/uy  ivete 
in  Parson  Bucknavis  day  ! "  There  are  now  living  and  in 
this  audience  before  me,  two  persons,  and  the  only  that  I 
know,  who  remember  to  have  seen  the  second  Pastor  of  this 
Church.  I  refer  to  Mr.  Oliver  Phillips  and  Joseph  L.  Richard- 
son, Esq. 

The  tradition  is,  "  that,  although  preaching  industriously  to 
this  Church  so  many  years.  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  had  upwards  of 
si.xty  MS.  sermons  in  advance  of  those  he  had  opportunity  to 
preach." 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright  says  of  this  honored  servant  of  God, 
"  Although  he  survived  his  public  labors,  he  did  not  survive 
the  affections  of  his  peoiDle.  Indeed,  his  praise  was  in  all  the 
Churches.  Many  were  witnesses  of  his  fidelity  and  enlight- 
ened zeal,  of  his  laborious  and  persevering  exertions  to  pro- 
mote the  spiritual  interests  of  the  people  of  his  charge.  His 
memory  will  be  cherished  with  respect  by  this  people." 

After  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam  retired  from  active  service,  his 
pulpit  was  supplied  for  a  time  by  a  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews,  and 
subsequently  by  Rev.  Walter  Harris.  The  latter  was  a  favor- 
ite student  of  theology  with  Dr.  Emmons ;  and  his  name  is  of 
some  interest  to  me,  as  he  was  subsequently  settled  the  first 
Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Dunbarton,  N.  H.,  my  native  town, 
where  he  preached  for  forty  years.  He  was  the  Pastor  of  my 
parents  and  my  grandparents.  I  can  just  remember  him.  Dr. 
Harris  stood  a  prince  among  the  ministers  of  that  region ;  he 
was  in  fact  the  Dr.  Emmons  of  New  Hampshire. 

Early  in  the  year  1787  (/.  ^.,Feb.  26)  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Green  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  as  a  candidate  for 
settlement.  The  Church,  and  the  Parish  also,  were  deeply 
impressed  that  to  settle  a  minister  was  a  grave  responsibility, 
something  which    they   nor   their   fathers    had    done ;   for   a 


45 

minister  had  not  been  ordained  pastor  here  for  sixty-three 
years,  since  their  grandfathers'  day.  So  affected  were  they, 
that  the  Church  called  a  special  Day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer  in 
view  of  it.  And  we  find  the  Parish  in  public  meeting,  March 
29,  1787,  voting, — 

"That  we  will  join  with  the  Church  in  this  place,  in  setting 
apart  a  Day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer  for  direction  in  calling  and 
settling  a  Gospel  Minister  in  this  place." 

That  day  was  observed  by  both  Church  and  Parish.     As  we 

have  seen,  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam,  April  25,  1787,  relinquished  his 

salary  and  accepted  an  annuity  of  ;£iS>  ^s  he  says, — 

"  For  the  sake  of  peace  and  that  the  way  maybe  plain,  and  all  obstruc- 
tion with  respect  to  the  resettlement  of  the  Gospel  ministry  removed." 

June  13,  1787,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Benj.  Green  to 
settle  as  Colleague  Pastor.  This  call  Mr.  Green  declined,  and 
assigned  this  reason,  "That  the  salary  voted  he  judged  not 
sufficient  for  that  purpose." 

The  following  August,  the  call  was  renewed,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  the  Parish  called  on  Mr.  Green  to  communicate  their 
action  and  confer  in  regard  to  the  salary.  Mr.  Green  returned 
answer,  "  That  he  was  otherwise  engaged  and  therefore  would 
not  confer  on  that  subject." 

However,  Feb.  12,  1788,  the  call  was  again  renewed,  the 
salary  to  be  ^£7$  during  Mr.  Bucknam's  life,  with  a  settlement 
of  jCzoo. 

This  third  call  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Green  remitted  ;£$  oi 
his  salary  to  the  Parish,  for  which  generosity  they  passed  a 
vote  of  thanks. 

Rev.    Benj.  Green   was   ordained  June   25,   1788,  Colleague 

Pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ.     Rev.  Mr.  Gushing,  of 

Waltham,  preached  the  sermon,  taking  for  the  text,  i  Cor.  i  : 

22-24  • 

"For  the  Jews  require  a  sign,  and  the  Greeks  seek  after  wisdom  :  But 
we  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  unto 
the  Greeks  foolishness  ;  But  unto  them  which  are  called  both  Jews  and 
Greeks,  Christ  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God." 


46 

Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  of  Lexington,  delivered  the  Charge  to  the 
Pastor ;  and  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship  was  given  by  Rev. 
Elijah  Brown,  of  Sherborn. 

It  is  said  that  Joseph  Lovell,  Esq.,  entertained  the  Council 
and  learned  gentlemen  present  on  the  occasion  at  his  own 
expense,  and  that  some  two  hundred  persons  sat  down  to 
dine  at  tables  spread  under  the  elm  trees  near  his  house. 
These  trees  are  still  standing. 


1788 THIRD  (colleague)  PASTORATE 1793. 

Rev.  Mr.  Green  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University  in 
the  Class  of  1784.  He  commenced  preaching  in  Medway  as 
a  candidate  early  in  1787,  but  was  not  settled  for  more  than  a 
year  after.  His  ministry  continued  only  aboilt  five  years.  He 
was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  Feb.  28,  1793,  some  two 
years  prior  to  Mr.  Bucknam's  death. 

Scarcely  any  records  remain  of  the  Church  under  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Mr.  Green.  Mr.  Wright  says  "  eleven  persons 
were  received  to  the  Church  under  this  ministry."  Near  its 
close,  and  the  probable  occasion  of  Mr.  Green's  resignation, 
there  were  evil  surmisings  sown,  by  evil-minded  persons, 
through  the  Parish,  and  scandalous  stories  circulated,  so  that 
great  excitement  for  a  time  prevailed.  But  from  the  best 
sources  of  information,  there  were  no  valid  grounds  for  the 
evil  reports ;  and  when  matters  were  sifted,  and  the  truth 
known,  the  cloud  upon  the  good  name  of  the  abused  Pastoi 
was  lifted  and  scattered,  and  the  pastoral  relation  dissolved  in 
"  mutual  charity  with  each  other,  and  mutually  recommending 
each  other  to  the  grace  of  God  and  the  charity  of  all " 

Upon  leaving  Medway,  Rev.  Mr.  Green  removed  to  Ber- 
wick, Maine.  He  left  the  ministry,  became  a  lawyer,  and  was 
subsequently  a  judge  of  some  eminence  in  that  State. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  fine  abilities,  and  much 
respected    for    his    talents    and    acquirements.       Doubtless, 


47 

but  for  the  blight  of  a  surmising  and  malicious  tongue,  he 
might  have  served  in  the  ministry  here  for  many  years  with 
acceptance  and  success.  He  preached  his  Farewell  Sermon, 
March  17,  1793,  taking  for  the  text,  Acts  20 :  24-27,  32  :  "  But 
none  of  these  things  move  me,"  etc.  This  Discourse  was 
printed  and  widely  circulated,  by  the  wish  of  many  of  his 
hearers. 

It  has  been  told  me,  that  a  last  and  very  important  service 
was  rendered  by  Judge  Green  to  his  old  Parish  years  after 
his  dismission.  Being  in  Boston,  he  was  met  by  his  old 
friend  Joseph  Lovell,  Esq.,  who  was  there  to  appear  for  East 
Medway  in  Court  in  some  case  involving  large  interests. 
The  lawyer  engaged  to  attend  to  the  case  did  not  handle  it 
successfully,  and  it  was  quite  apparent  that  it  would  go  against 
East  Medway.  At  this  juncture,  Mr.  Lovell  asked  Judge 
Green  to  appear  and  speak  in  its  behalf,  which  he  did,  and 
the  case,  that  all  thought  lost,  was  gained.  Having  spoken, 
Judge  Green  suddenly  disappeared  from  the  court-room ;  and 
his  friend,  Mr.  Lovell,  had  no  time  even  to  thank  him  for  the 
service,  and  never  saw  him  afterward. 

It  was  shortly  after  the  dismission  of  Rev.  Mr.  Green,  that 
the  Parish  voted  to  give  up  the  practice  of  seating  the  Church, 
i.  e.,  according  to  dignity  by  reason  of  age  and  estate.  This 
old  custom,  at  which  we  now  smile,  was  in  those  days  a 
matter  of  great  importance,  as  for  example :  there  was  a  Parish 
Meeting  called  March  30,  1785,  for  this  purpose,  viz., — 

"To  hear  the  Petition  of  Oliver  Richardson  &  others,  to  try  the  minds 
of  the  Parish  by  a  vote,  to  see  whether  the  front  pews  in  the  gallery  is 
higher  in  dignity  than  the  2"'l  seats  in  the  side  galleries,  and  if  passed  in 
the  Affirmative  to  direct  the  seating  Committee  to  make  such  alteration  in 
the  Galleries  as  shall  be  reasonable." 

And  at  the  meeting  it  was  voted,  — 

"  That  Front  pews  in  the  Gallery  is  higher  in  Dignity  than  the  second 
seats  in  the  side  Gallery." 

And  the  Committee  was  instructed  accordingly. 


48 

So  much  for  Dignity  in  the  House  of  God.  But  customs 
change,  and  this  could  not  stand  in  a  country  where  all  men 
were  to  be  equals  before  the  Law,  and  equals  before  the  Lord, 
the  Maker  of  them  all 

It  appears  that  it  was  voted  to  give  a  certain  portion  of  the 
Gallery  to  those  who  would  lead  in  the  singing  in  public  ser- 
vice ;  and  since  the  power  of  song  did  not  depend  on  "  age  or 
estate,"  persons  of  mixed  dignity  must,  if  they  sat  in  the  place 
assigned,  be  thrown  together.  It  was  a  perplexity  ;  and  nine 
substantial  citizens  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  deliberate 
what  could  be  done.  They  were  men  of  good  sense,  of  prog- 
ressive ideas,  and  reported  in  favor  of  abandoning  the  old  habit 
of  "seating  the  Church,"  and  accordingly,  April  25,  1794,  the 
Parish  voted  to  sell  the  pews  for  one  year  to  the  highest 
bidder.  The  renting  of  pews  has  been  the  ordinary  practice 
ever  since. 

After  the  leaving  of  Rev.  Mr.  Green,  the  Church  and  Society 
were  for  some  time  in  an  unsettled  state  ;  and  in  this  interim, 
before  the  next  Pastorate,  a  period  of  some  five  years,  the 
Pulpit  was  supplied  by  more  than  twenty  different  candidates. 

Among  them  were  Rev.  Messrs.  Samuel  P.  Bailey,  Daniel 
C.  Sanders,  Simeon  Dagget,  Aaron  Green,  Benjamin  Freden- 
burg,  Ebenezer  Withington,  Bezaleel  Pinneo,  Nicholas  B. 
Whiting,  Jairus  Remington,  Jacob  Abbott,  William  Mason, 
M.  Fletcher,  Isaac  Braman,  James  Hawley,  John  Ripon,  Silas 
Warren,  Luther  Wright,  Timothy  Williams,  Nathan  Tilton, 
and  William  Bigelow. 

In  1794  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Aaron  Green,  but  the 
vote  was  not  unanimous,  especially  in  the  Society  ;  and  on 
reconsideration  the  Society  voted  not  to  concur  with  the 
Church.  Whether  this  was  because  of  objection  to  the  man, 
or  a  prejudice  still  existing  in  the  Parish  against  the  name  of 
Green,  I  am  not  informed. 

Two  years  after,  in  1796,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Isaac 
Braman,  which,  although  not  unanimous,  was  accepted  ;  and 


49 

the  day  of  his  ordination  was  appointed,  and  the  Ecclesiastical 
Council  met  June  21,  1796,  and  after  protracted  deliberation 
concluded  not  to  ordain  the  Pastor  Elect,  but  adopted  the 
following  Minutes :  — 

"Considering  the  divided  state  of  the  Church  and  Society  we  tliink 
that  neither  Mr.  Braman's  comfort  and  usefulness  nor  the  peace  and 
prosperity  of  the  Church  and  Society  would  be  promoted  by  his  continu- 
ance and  settlement  among  them.  We  therefore  advise  Mr.  Braman 
to  withdraw  his  Affirmative  Answer  and  the  Church  and  Society  to  con- 
sent, without  proceeding  to  complete  their  proposed  connections,  which 
they  may  do  by  adopting  this  result." 

Which  was  accordingly  done. 

This  Mr.  Isaac  Braman  was  subsequently  settled  in  Row- 
ley, that  part  now  known  as  Georgetown.  He  was  ordained 
there  June  7,  1797,  Pastor  over  the  First  Church,  now 
called  the  Peabody  Memorial  Church,  where  he  fulfilled  a 
distinguished  ministry  of  some  fifty-five  years. 

So  we  see,  that  a  minister  not  good  for  one  place  may  be 
good  for  some  other  Parish.  His  widow,  a  second  wife,  still 
resides  in  Georgetown. 

The  Pulpit  of  the  First  Church  continued  vacant  another 
year,  and  was  supplied  by  various  candidates.  Since  the  dis- 
mission of  Rev.  Mr.  Green  there  had  been  more  than  twenty 
candidates  employed ;  the  one  supplying  was  a  Mr.  Bigelow. 
It  was  a  beautiful  summer  Sabbath  morning,  the  roses  were 
in  bloom,  and  the  birds  were  praising  God  with  their  sweetest 
carols,  June  the  25th,  1797,  just  nine  years  since  the  ordination 
day  of  the  last  Pastor,  there  appeared  in  the  pulpit,  in  place 
of  the  regular  candidate,  a  young  minister,  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  University  the  year  before,  who  interested  the  con- 
gregation very  much.  This  young  minister  was  Luther 
Wright,  and  when  their  present  engagements  were  up,  the 
Parish  Committee  arranged  with  hitn  to  supply  the  pulpit  for 
three  months,  which  he  did  with  great  acceptance. 
7 


50 

Mr.  Wright  then  went  to  Brentwood,  N.  H.,  where  he 
preached  several  months  ;  but  while  there  the  Church  and 
Parish  united  in  giving  him  a  call  to  return  to  Medway  and 
become  their  Pastor.  This  call  to  Mr.  Wright  was  dated  Jan. 
4,  1798,  and  the  salary  offered  was  $265.67,  with  a  settlement 
of  $666.67,  to  be  paid  within  two  years;  under  date  of  April 
29,  1798.     Rev.  Mr.  Wright  returned  answer  as  follows: 

"To  THE  First  Chukch  and  Religious  Society  in  Medway: 

Gentlemen,  —  Whereas  you  have  been  dispo-sed,  under  the  permission 
of  Providence,  to  give  me  an  invitation  to  settle  with  you  as  your  Gospel 
Minister,  and  having,  I  trust,  duly  considered  and  deliberated  upon  the 
important  subject,  I  shall  improve  the  present  opportunity  to  answer 
your  invitation. 

I  am  not  insensible  of  the  important  consequences  which  my  decision 
must  involve,  not  only  as  it  respects  myself,  but  more  especially  this 
Church  and  Society.  The  issue  of  my  determination  I  view  as  not  merely 
connected  with  our  temporal  happiness,  but  with  our  spiritual  and  eternal 
interest.  The  subject,  therefore,  is  equally  interesting  to  us  both.  Pre- 
vious to  my  determination  I  have  taken  into  consideration  every  known 
circumstance  connected  with  this  event.  Your  transactions  to  this  effect 
I  hope  and  trust  have  been  the  result  of  dispassionate  and  serious  deliber- 
ation. The  auspicious  unanimity  manifested  in  your  invitation,  and  in 
the  greater  part  of  relative  proceedings,  has  been  a  consideration  highly 
influential  in  my  decision.  The  advice  of  ministers  and  friends  has  been 
solicited  and  the  direction  of  Heaven  fervently  implored. 

Having  thus  seasonably  and  prayerfully  attended  to  this  subject,  I  con- 
ceive it  my  duty  to  accept  and  do  hereby  publicly  declare  my  acceptance  of 
your  invitation  to  settle  with  you  in  the  great  work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry. 

Although  I  view  the  encouragement  provided  in  my  salary  as  inadequate 
to  a  comfortable  support,  under  the  present  state  of  articles  of  life,  yet 
in  confidence  that  you  will  be  disposed  to  make  such  further  provision, 
as  your  ability  will  allow  and  my  situation  require,  I  have  thought  it 
proper  to  accept  that  part  of  the  encouragement  without  alteration. 

And  I  now  earnestly  request  you  to  beseech  the  Father  of  mercies 
that  through  his  grace  he  would  enable  me  faithfully  to  discharge  the 
great  work  to  which  I  am  called  :  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  inculcate, 
both  by  precept  and  example,  in  public  and  in  private  the  doctrines  and 
duties  of  our  Holy  Religion.  And  may  the  God  of  all  grace  grant,  that 
you  and  your  posterity  may  receive  not  only  temporal  but  spiritual  ad- 
vantage from  the  preaching  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 

(Signed)  LUTHER  WRIGHT." 

"  Brentwood,  N.  H." 


./ 


51 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright  was  "ordained  to  the  momentous  work  of 
the  Christian  Ministry,"  and  installed  Pastor  of  this  Church 
June  13,  1798.  Fourteen  Churches  were  represented  in  the 
Council. 

Rev.  Josiah  Bridge  was  chosen  Moderator.  Rev.  Moses 
Adams,  of  Acton,  the  former  instructor  of  the  Pastor  elect, 
preached  an  appropriate  Ordination  Sermon  from  Isa.  50 :  7. 
— "  For  the  Lord  God  will  help  me,  therefore  shall  I  not  be 
confounded  ;  therefore  have  I  set  my  face  like  a  flint,  and  I 
know  that  I  shall  not  be  ashamed."  The  Charge  to  the  Pastor 
was  given  by  the  IModerator,  who  was  to  become,  two  years 
later,  the  young  minister's  father-in-law.  Rev.  Thomas  Pren- 
tiss, of  Medfield,  gave  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship. 


1798 — FOURTH    PASTORATE 1815. 

Rev.  Luther  Wright  was  born  April,  1770. 

He  graduated  at  Harvard  in  the  Class  of  1796,  and  publicly 
professed  Christ  and  became  a  member  of  the  First  Church  in 
Cambridge  in  November  of  the  same  year,  Rev.  Abiel  Holmes 
being  the  Pastor;  and  the  13th  of  June,  1798,  was  ordained 
Pastor  of  this  Church. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright  was  not  married  for  nearly  two  years  after 
his  settlement. 

It  appears  from  the  "  Massachusetts  Mercury,"  that  on  the 
very  day  that  the  "  Death  of  Washington  "  was  announced  in 
Boston,  which  was  Dec.  23,  1799  (nine  days  after  its  occur- 
rence, the  time  it  took  then  for  news  to  come  from  Washington 
to  Boston),  there  was  a  wedding  at  the  Parsonage  in  East 
Sudbury,  and  the  good  Parson's  daughter  Nancy  was  the  Bride, 
and  the  young  Minister  of  Medway  the  happy  Bridegroom. 

This  is  the  printed  record  under  "  Marriages,"  in  the  "  Mas- 
sachusetts Mercury  Jan.  3,  1800":  "At  East  Sudbury,  on 
Monday,  23d  ult..  Rev.  Luther  Wright  of  Medway  to  Miss 


52 

Nancy  Bridge,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Josiah  Bridge."  And 
soon  after,  the  Pastor  of  Mcdway  brought  his  young  bride  to 
town ;  and  they  settled  down  in  the  house  now  occupied  by 
our  venerable  friend,  Oliver  Phillips,  Esq.  There  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  during  his  ministry  of  some  seventeen  years. 
Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  in  person,  was  a  short,  thick-set  man,  of  fair, 
full  countenance,  still  remembered  by  some  here  present.  A 
good  lithograph  of  him  hangs  on  the  wall  of  the  house  where 
he  lived. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright's  ministry  was  a  useful  one.  Some  fifty 
persons  were  added  to  the  Church,  and  during  the  first  and 
last  years  of  his  Pastorate  there  were  seasons  of  marked  re- 
freshing from  the  Lord.  He  was  devoted  to  his  work,  and 
while  he  met  with  some  discouragements,  he  was  loved  by  his 
people,  and  showed  himself  a  man  of  ability  and  sagacity.  He 
was  largely  the  instrumentality  of  bringing  about  the  renewed 
fellowship  of  the  First  and  Second  Churches,  after  an  aliena- 
tion of  thirty-two  years. 

During  his  ministry  there  came  up  a  case  of  discipline,  which 
engaged  the  Church  for  a  long  time. 

It  was  concerning  an  alleged  embezzlernent  in  the  settle- 
ment of  an  estate.  The  property  said  to  have  been  wrong- 
fully appropriated  consisted  of  "  one  Bolster  and  two  Pillows 
and  seven  yards  of  new  Cloth  belonging  to  said  estate."  The 
complaint  was  first  introduced  Dec.  26,  1802,  and  on  consid- 
eration was  not  entertained ;  but  it  was  persistently  urged 
upon  the  attention  of  the  Church,  giving  occasion  for  innu- 
merable meetings,  which  resulted,  at  last,  in  the  calling  of  an 
Ecclesiastical  Council  of  the  most  prominent  Churches,  from 
Dedham  to  Worcester.  This  was  in  1808,  six  years  after  the 
case  was  first  brought  into  the  Church. 

This  Council  met  Oct.  18,  1808,  Tuesday,  and  remained  in 
session  five  days,  until  the  following  Saturday ;  and  the  result 
reached  and  unanimously  voted  was,  that,  — 


53 

"The  charge  was  not  sustained,  but  that  the  complainant  had  violated 
his  Covenant  in  absenting  himself  from  the  Holy  Communion  :  Because 
a  supposed  offence  of  a  member  of  a  Church  does  not  warrant  the  offended 
member  to  abstain  from  the  performance  of  his  duty." 

This  case  illustrates  how  much  trouble,  without  any  good 
ground,  one  member  may  give  the  Church,  —  "  How  great  a 
matter  a  little  fire  kindleth." 

Nov.  4,  1813,  Rev.  Luther  Wright  preached  a  Centennial 
Sermon  of  the  Town,  a  copy  of  which  the  Selectmen  requested 
for  printing,  and  it  was  accordingly  published.  To  this  Ser- 
mon I  am  indebted  for  some  of  the  facts  herein  presented. 

In  the  latter  part  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wright's  ministry  a  move- 
ment was  started,  and  work  actually  commenced,  on  a  new 
meeting-house,  the  third  in  order  of  erection. 

Various  discouragements  and  certain  scandalous  stories  cir- 
culated led  Rev.  Mr.  Wright  to  resign  his  pastorate.  His 
Letter  of  Resignation  was  read  to  the  Congregation  on  the 
Sabbath,  July  9,  181 5.  A  Council  was  called,  and  investigated 
the  rumors  adverse  to  the  character  of  Mr.  Wright,  at  his  own 
request,  and  found  no  grounds  whatever  for  the  slightest  sus- 
picion to  rest  on  his  good  name.  Finally  he  was  dismissed  by 
advice  of  Council,  Sept.  20,  181 5,  "who  unanimously  voted": 

"That  Rev.  Luther  Wright  be  recommended  in  his  moral,  Christian, 
and  ministerial  character  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Churches  and  to  employ- 
ment in  the  Ministry  of  the  Gospel." 

The  Church,  at  a  meeting  held  Sept.  13th,  voted  unani- 
mously the  following :  — 

"  Whereas  the  Rev.  Luther  Wright  is  about,  in  the  Providence  of  God, 
to  remove  from  us,  and  to  have  his  pastoral  relation  to  us  dissolved,  we 
owe  it  to  truth  and  justice  to  express  our  belief,  that  during  his  Ministry 
amongst  us  he  has  been  able  and  faithful  in  this  important  work,  and  we 
do  express  our  approbation  of  his  Christian  and  ministerial  character,  and 
we  do  with  sentiments  of  friendship  and  Christian  affection  recommend 
him  and  his  ministerial  labors  to  sister  Churches  wherever  God  in  his 
providence  may  call  him." 

(Signed)  "Asa  D.a^mels,  Jr.,  Moderator  pro  tern.'''' 


54 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright  preached  his  Farewell  Discourse  Oct.  i, 
1815  (just  sixty-one  years  ago  this  day),  taking  for  his  Text, 
Acts  2  :  29  :  "  Men  and  brethren,  let  me  freely  speak  unto 
you."  On  the  same  day  he  administered  the  Communion,  and 
there  were  presented  two  children  for  Baptism.  One  was  the 
son  of  Marcus  Richardson,  who  received  the  name  of  "  Simon 
Hill,"  for  the  Senior  Deacon  of  the  Church  ;  and  the  other,  the 
Son  of  Samuel  Seaver,  was  named  "  Luther  Wright,"  for  the 
retiring  Pastor. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wright's  Printed  Sermons  are,  a  Discourse 
preached  May  25,  1806,  at  the  Funeral  of  Capt.  Cyrus 
Bullard,  Master  of  the  Brig  Litteller,  who  died  on  his  third 
voyage,  April  13,  1806,  of  fever,  on  the  Island  of  St.  Thomas, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years.  Capt.  Bullard  was  a  young 
man  of  great  promise.  The  Text  chosen  was,  Jer.  45  :  3  : 
"  Thou  didst  say,  Woe  is  me  now !  for  the  Lord  hath  added 
grief  to  my  sorrow:  I  fainted  in  my  sighing  and  I  find  no 
rest "  ;  and  a  Discourse  already  referred  to,  Centennial  of  the 
Town,  the  Text  being  Exodus  12:  14:  "This  day  shall  be 
unto  you  for  a  memorial." 

After  his  removal  from  Medway,  Rev.  Mr.  Wright  resided 
for  a  time  in  East  Sudbury,  to  which  Church  he  took  a  Letter 
of  Dismission.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Woburn,  where 
he  lived  some  years. 

He  was  accustomed  to  visit  Medway  occasionally.  I  am 
told  that  he  was  here  on  his  eightieth  birth-day  and  preached 
to  his  old  people,  taking  this  Text,  Joshua  14:  10:  "  Lo !  I 
am  this  day  fourscore."  This  was  his  last  visit  to  the  scene  of 
his  early  labors  in  the  Gospel  ministry. 

He  lived  to  be  eighty-eight  years  and  two  months  old,  and 
died  June  21,  1858.  Mrs.  Wright  survived  him  nearly  three 
years,  and  died  Feb.  23,  1861,  aged  eighty-four  years  eleven 
months  and  eight  days.  The  graves  of  this  aged  pair  are  in 
the  cemetery  in  Woburn,  Mass. 


55 


l8t6  —  THIRD    MEETING    HOUSE —  185O. 

Early  in  1813  a  movement  was  started  by  Joseph  Lovell, 
Esq.,  and  others,  to  build  a  new  meeting-house.  A  vote  of  the 
Parish  was  obtained  the  sixth  of  September  following.  The 
location  selected  was  Bullard's  Hill,  somewhat  to  the  south- 
ward of  the  old  meeting-house.  Some  three  acres  of  land  were 
purchased  of  Mr.  Adam  BuUard,  who  gave  one  acre  in  addition, 
and  small  parcels  of  land  adjacent  were  also  given  by  Mr.  Asa 
Darling,  Timothy  Hammond,  Esq ,  and  Mr.  Jonathan  Bullen, 
amounting  in  all  to  nearly  five  acres. 

These  were  liberal  grounds  for  the  proposed  edifice. 
The  site  chosen  on  which  to  erect  the  building  was  the 
very  summit  of  the  hill,  obliging  much  labor  and  expense 
in  so  grading  it,  as  to  make  it  accessible  by  carriage,  or  on 
foot.  The  ascent,  after  all,  some  of  you  will  remember,  was 
very  steep.  These  lands  in  later  times  were  purchased  of 
the  Parish  by  Maj.  Geo.  Holbrook,  and  are  still  retained  in 
possession  by  his  descendants.  The  avails,  $200,  were 
expended  in  grading  and  fencing  the  grounds  about  our 
present  House  of  Worship. 

The  plan  of  the  new  meeting-house  made  the  dimensions 
fifty-three  feet  square,  with  a  projection  in  front  of  thirty  feet 
by  fifteen.  The  posts  were  twenty-nine  feet,  and  it  was  voted 
to  build  a  "  steeple  instead  of  a  cupola  ; "  with  this  exception, 
and  some  other  slight  changes,  it  was  to  be  built  after  the  plan 
of  the  new  meeting-house,  then  building  in  West  Medway.  No 
steeple,  as  yet,  had  been  builded  in  the  town,  and  the  old  East 
Parish  said,  "  We  must  have  a  steeple  to  our  new  Church."  But 
alas  !  whether  in  rebuke,  or  not,  of  an  undue  pride  is  not  deter- 
mined ;  but  certainly,  to  the  grief  of  the  builder,  this  first  steeple 
did  not  stand  long,  for  it  had  hardly  pierced  the  skies,  was  yet 
unfinished,  when  that  fearful  gale  of  Sept.  23,  18 15,  came,  took 
it  completely  ofi,  hurled  it  to  the  ground,  and  broke  it  into 
a  thousand  fragments.     But  the  generous  people  came  to  the 


56 

help  of  the  contractor  and  speedily  the  steeple  was  rebuilt 
and  held  its  lofty  jDlace  until  the  meeting-house  was  taken 
down  and  removed  to  serve  other  purposes. 

The  Building  Committee  chosen  were  Mr.  Theodore  Clark, 
Joseph  Lovell,  Esq.,  Messrs.  Comfort  Walker,  Moses  Adams, 
and  Thomas  Harding. 

The  building  contractor  was  Malachi  BuUard.  The  cost 
was  six  thousand  and  six  hundred  dollars. 

This  new  house  of  worship  was  near  completion  :  when 
the  first  church-bell  was  cast  in  Holbrook's  Bell  Foundry. 
The  happy  thought  seized  the  Parish  to  purchase  it ;  and,  ac- 
cordingly, it  was  hung  aloft  in  the  new  Church-steeple  May  13, 
1 8 16,  where  it  pealed  forth  its  glad  tones  each  Lord's  Day  for 
many  years,  reminding  the  people  of  the  Sabbath  and  God's 
worship  in  the  Sanctuary. 

The  house  completed,  the  pews  were  appraised,  "  except  the 
First  Pew  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Broad  Alley,  which  is  to 
be  left  for  the  use  of  the  Minister  of  the  Parish." 

The  Communion  Table  and  the  Minister's  Chair  were  made 
by  the  skilled  cabinet-maker  of  the  Parish,  Mr.  Eleazer 
Daniels.  The  former  is  still  in  useful  service  in  the  Vestry 
below  ;  the  latter  stands  in  your  Pastor's  Study. 

Public  Worship  was  held  in  the  new  meeting-house  for  the 
first  time  Sept.  8,  18 16,  and  it  was  dedicated  Nov.  20,  18 16. 
It  continued  to  be  occupied  for  worship  until  1850,  thirty-four 
years.  It  was  then  sold,  taken  down,  removed  to  Rockville, 
re-erected,  and  now  stands,  bereft  of  its  tall  spire,  emptied  of 
its  former  glory,  a  gloomy,  unoccupied  building,  with  no 
token  of  its  original  sacredness. 

The  Parish  Hall,  which  was  erected  in  1822,  was  sold,  re- 
moved, and  made  into  a  dwelling-house,  which  stood  on  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  Parsonage,  but  was  burned  to  the 
ground  in  1871.  To-day  there  is  nothing  to  remind  one  that 
the  three  first  Meeting-houses  of  this  Church,  with  their 
adjuncts,   viz.    Noon  House,  Parish  Hall,  and  Horse-sheds, 


57 

for  almost  a  century  and  a  half,  occupied  yonder  sand- 
hill, through  which  now  passes  the  railroad  cut,  and  the 
steam-car  whistles  on  its  iron  way,  —  thoughtless,  that  once 
just  overhead  were  the  Sanctuary  and  the  Pulpit,  where 
the  good  Parson  preached  his  Gospel  Sermons  and  said 
his  Sunday  Prayers. 

Not  long  after  Rev.  Mr.  Wright's  dismission,  the  Parish 
Committee  secured  the  services  of  a  young  minister  from 
Canton  as  a  candidate.  Accordingly  one  Sabbath  morning 
there  ascended  the  pulpit-stairs  of  the  old  First  Church  a 
young  man  of  fine  personal  bearing.  Wlien  he  stood  up  to 
read  the  hymn  the  congregation  were  peculiarly  struck  by 
the  contrast  presented  with  their  old  minister.  Rev.  Mr. « 
Wright  was  exceeding  short,  this  young  candidate  was  exceed- 
ing tall.  As  all  marvelled  inwardly  at  his  height,  some 
whispered,  "  Surely  our  pulpit  has  a  minister  in  it  to-day 
nearer  Heaven  in  one  respect  than  any  one  who  ever  stood 
in  it  before ! "  But  by  the  time  he  had  concluded  the 
service,  many  thought  that  he  must  be  nearer  Heaven  in 
another  sense  also ;  for  he  prayed  and  preached  with  no 
common  unction  and  power.  Rev.  Luther  Bailey  made  a 
good  impression  on  the  Medway  people,  and  very  shortly 
Church  and  Parish  agreed  in  sending  him  an  invitation  to 
settle  as   their   Minister. 

The  annual  salary  was  to  be  six  hundred  dollars  and  his 
settlement  two  hundred  dollars.  Some  correspondence  passed 
between  the  parties,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  finally  returned  his 
answer  of  acceptance,  as  follows  :  — 

"  To  THE  Church  and  Society  in  the  East  Parish  of  Medway  .  — 

Brethren  and  Friends,  —  You  having  by  the  direction  of  Providence, 
as  I  tru.st,  proceeded  to  request  me  to  settle  with  you  in  this  Gospel  min- 
istry, I  have  seriously  and  prayerfully  attended  to  the  subject.  Although 
every  circumstance  is  not  yet  fully  decided,  yet  as  much  time  has  already 
elapsed  since  your  invitation,  which  has  nearly  exhausted  your  patience, — 
and  I  confess  I  have  become  weary  of  suspense,  —  it  is  thought  advisable 
S 


58 

that  the  answer  be  given  conditionally,  leaving  these  circumstances  to  be 
hereafter  arranged. 

I  am  very  sensible,  my  Christian  friends,  of  my  inadequateness  to  this 
important  and  interesting  work.  Under  this  impression  I  am  desirous  of 
taking  to  myself  humility.  Every  uninspired  man  ought  to  remember  the 
words  of  an  inspired  Apostle,  '  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ? '  But 
the  great  Head  of  the  Church  has  declared  to  every  faithful  servant,  '  My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee  ;  thy  strength  shall  be  equal  to  thy  day.'  Re- 
lying upon  this  grace  and  promise,  not,  however,  without  trembling  lips 
for  my  unworthiness  ;  and  feeling  a  desire  to  be  useful,  if  possible,  to  my 
fellow-creatures,  and  particularly  to  advance  the  Redeemer's  cause  among 
you,  my  friends,  I  answer  your  invitation  in  the  affirmative. 

May  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  bless  this  union.  I  shall  need 
not  only  the  promised  assistance  of  the  Spirit,  but  your  indulgence,  your 
charity,  your  prayers.  These  I  have  no  doubt  I  shall  receive.  I  am 
resolved  with  you  to  spend  and  be  spent  in  the  cause  of  our  Divine 
T^edeemer,  determining  'to  know  nothing  among  you'  in  preference  to 
'  Christ  and  Him  Crucified.'  When  He  shall  appear,  it  is  my  ardent 
prayer  that  we,  with  all  the  '  redeemed  of  the  Lord,  may  also  appear  with 
Him  in  glory.'.     For  this  purpose  may  He  bless  his  own  word  and  work. 

(Signed)  Luther  Bailey." 

Taunton,  Aug.  14,  18 16. 

About  this  time  the  new  meeting-house  was  near  comple- 
tion, and  it  was  voted  to  hold  public  worship  in  it  the  second 
Sabbath  in  September.  Accordingly,  Sept  8,  18 16,  the  first 
service  was  held  in  the  new  house ;  and  arrangements  were 
completed  to  have  the  Dedication  and  the  Ordination  fall 
upon  the  same  day.  The  day  appointed  was  Nov.  20,  18 16; 
accordingly  a' large  Council  was  called,  and  the  representatives 
of  twenty-four  churches  met  on  the  great  occasion.  The  exami- 
nation of  the  candidate  was  highly  satisfactory,  and  the  Council 
proceeded  to  the  public  services  of  the  Dedication  and  the 
Ordination.  Rev.  Daniel  C.  Sanders,  d.  d.,  of  Medfield, 
preached  the  Dedication  Sermon  from  the  Text,  2  Chron.  5  :  14 : 
"The  glory  of  the  Lord  had  filled  the  house."  Rev.  James 
Wilson,  of  the  Second  Church  in  Providence,  made  the  Dedi- 
catory Prayer.  Rev.  Edward  Richmond,  d.  d.,  of  Stoughton, 
preached  the  Ordination  Sermon.     Text,  John  13:35.     Rev. 


59 

Dr.  Sanders  made  the  Ordaining  Prayer.  Rev.  George 
Morey,  of  Walpole,  gave  the  Charge  to  the  Pastor,  and  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  then  recently  settled  over  the  Second 
Church  in  Medway,  gave  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship. 
Rev.  Dr.  Ide,  now  ninety-one  years  of  age,  is  probably  the 
only  one  of  that  large  Council  of  fifty-four  persons,  who  is 
now  living. 

The  record  made  by  the  Scribe  concludes  thus  :  "  All  things 
having  been  done  decently  and  in  order,  the  Council  was  dis- 
solved." 

Rev.  Joshua  Bates,  of  the  First  Church  in  Dedham,  was  the 
Scribe.  One  of  this  Council,  gathered  from  the  Churches 
within  forty  miles,  was  Rev.  \Vm.  Cogswell,  then  the  young 
Pastor  of  the  Third  Church  in  Dedham,  who  was  the  father  of 
the  present  Pastor's  wife.  The  Ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey 
and  the  Dedication  of  the  then  elegant  Church  edifice  fell  on 
the  one  hundred  and  first  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the 
first  Pastor,  Rev.  David  Deming,  which  occurred  Nov.  20, 
1715.     The  sermons  preached  were  printed. 

I816  —  FIFTH    PASTORATE 1835. 

Rev.  Luther  Bailey  was  born  in  Canton,  Mass.,  1783,  and 
first  united  with  the  Church  of  his  native  town.  He  graduated 
at  Brown  University  in  the  Class  of  1808.  He  married  a  Miss 
Anne  Peck,  of  Providence,  R.  I ,  a  young  lady  of  an  intelligent 
and  independent  mind.  In  181 1  he  was  the  Preceptor  of 
Bradford  Academy,  and  subsequently,  of  Taunton  Academy 
for  some  five  years ;  while  at  Taunton,  he  preached  for  some 
time  in  Mendon  and  supplied  other  pulpits  in  the  vicinity 
occasionally.  He  was  a  brother  of  Hon  John  Bailey,  who 
was  for  some  years  a  Member  of  Congress  from  this  State. 

At  the  time  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey's  settlement  there  were 
seventy-four  members  of  this  Church.  During  his  ministry 
there  were  added  about  a  hundred  and  forty  persons,  mostly 


6o 

by  confession  of  faith.  The  largest  accessions  were  in  the 
years  1827  and  1834.  But  no  year  of  his  ministry  passed 
without  some  additions.  He  must  have  been  a  very  faithful 
and  laborious  Pastor.  He  met  with  some  peculiar  trials, 
owing  to  the  great  controversy  which  arose  in  the  Churches 
of  this  State  about  that  time,  in  regard  to  the  Person  of 
Christ.  But,  although  troubled  at  the  division  in  his  own 
Society  near  the  close  of  his  ministry,  he  bore  himself  with 
remarkable  prudence,  and  retained  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  his  people,  as  a  good  man  and  devoted  Christian 
minister. 

After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  twenty  years,  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey 
asked  a  dismission,  which  was  granted,  by  advice  of  Ecclesi- 
astical Council,  Dec.  29,  1835.  In  the  Result  of  Council  this 
was  adopted,  —  "That  the  Council  recommend  the  Rev.  Lu- 
ther Bailey,  as  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  in  good  and  regular 
standing,  and  they  do  hereby  commend  him  as  a  faithful  min- 
ister of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the 
Churches." 

About  the  time  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey's  settlement,  the  P'irst 
Sabbath  School  in  the  town  was  organized.  A  little  after,  a 
Weekly  Prayer  Meeting  was  started  in  Rockville  on  Saturday 
evenings  (this  was  in  1822)  by  the  efforts,  principally,  of 
two  earnest  Christian  men  living  in  that  part  of  the  Parish. 
I  refer  to  Mr.  Timothy  Walker,  afterward  Deacon  of  this 
Church,  and  for  many  years  the  Superintendent  of  the  Sab- 
bath School,  and  Mr.  Matthew  Brown,  who  afterward  suc- 
ceeded Dea.  Walker  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School. 
Both  these  gentlemen  are  now  living,  and  the  former  gladdens 
us  with  his  presence  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  Brown  was  quite 
tried,  I  am  told,  at  first,  as  to  what  he  should  do.  He  was 
expected  to  be  at  his  place  of  business  at  all  hours  of  day  and 
evening ;  and  on  Saturday  night,  of  all  other  times,  his  patrons 
expected  to  find  him  at  his  post.  However,  he  decided  to  attend 
the  Prayer  Meeting,  and  accordingly  posted  a  notice,  politely 


6i 

informing  his  customers,  that  for  one  hour,  naming  the  time, 
on  Saturday  evenings,  lie  should  be  engaged ;  at  all  other 
times  he  should  be  happy  to  serve  them.  The  result  was,  his 
business  prospered  even  better  than  before,  showing  that  it 
is  not  a  vain  thing  to  serve  God,  to  be  fervent  in  spirit  as 
well  as  diligent  in  business. 

This  meeting  w^as  sustained  for  years  with  much  interest 
and  good  result. 

It  was  in  1822  that  the  Parish  Hall  was  built,  much  to  the 
accommodation  of  the  young  and  prosperous  Sabbath  School, 
which  occupied  it  for  many  years. 

In  the  year  1828  this  Church  voted  to  hold  the  Monthly 
Monday  Prayer  Meeting,  the  object  of  w-hich  was  to  pray  for 
Foreign  Missions,  which  at  that  day  was  a  new  and  exciting 
enterprise  undertaken  by  the  Churches. 

The  only  printed  Sermon  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  that  has  come 
under  my  notice,  is  one  that  was  preached  on  the  Sabbath, 
Oct.  17,  1830,  at  the  Funeral  of  Miss  Betsey  Adams.  The 
Text  was,  Ps.  39  : 4  :  "  Lord,  make  me  to  know  mine  end  and 
the  measure  of  my  days,  what  it  is  ;  that  I  may  know  how 
frail  I  am."  Miss  Adams  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Moses 
Adams. 

About  the  year  1834  there  was  a  movement  by  some  in  the 
Parish  to  set  up  another  religious  service,  and  procure 
"preaching  of  some  other  denomination;"  and  for  a  time 
those  interested  held  an  extra  service  in  the  Parish  Hall  by 
the  courtesy  of  the  First  Parish.  In  1835,  near  the  close  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Bailey's  pastorate,  some  more  than  forty  members 
of  the  First  Parish  withdrew  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  new 
Religious  Society.  This  decided  step  led  the  First  Parish 
to  withhold  the  use  of  the  Parish  Hall,  and  the  new  organi- 
zation set  about  the  erection  of  a  meeting-house. 

Meanwhile  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  had  resigned,  but  was  still 
residing  in  the  Parish.  After  hearing  various  persons,  their 
meeting-house  being  completed,  the  new  Society  invited  their 


62 

old  minister  to  become  the  Pastor.  This  new  organization 
had  taken  the  name  of  the  "Third  Congregational  Society 
in  Medway."  And  accordingly  eleven  persons,  members  of 
the  First  Church,  having  requested,  but  not  received  dismis- 
sion, "  Wishing,"  as  they  say,  "  to  associate  in  public  worship 
with  the  '  Third  Congregational  Society  in  Medway,'  agree  and 
covenant  together  to  be 

"  THE    THIRD    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH." 

And  they  add,  "  We  mutually  agree  to  walk,  together  in  Chris- 
tian fellowshi23  and  to  adopt  as  our  Church  Covenant  the  Cov- 
enant used  in  the  said  First  Church." 

This  agreement  has  appended  the  following  names,  viz.  :  — 

"  Lutlier  Bailey,  Adam  BuUard,  Lewis  Harding,  Kezia  Harding,  Olive 
Harding,  Sarah  Harding,  Mary  Richardson,  Kezia  Harding,  Eliza  Adams, 
Dorcas  M.  Wright,  Abigail  Lovell." 

An  Ecclesiastical  Council  was  convened  on  Wednesday, 
Dec.  7,  1836,  which  recognized  this  Third  Congregational 
Church  and  Society ;  dedicated  their  meeting-house,  and 
installed    Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  the  Pastor. 

The  Sermon  preached  was  by  Rev.  William  Ritchie,  then 
Pastor  of  East  Needham,  formerly  the  minister  of  Canton,  by 
whom  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  was  received  to  the  Church.  This  new 
Church  maintained  service  a  number  of  years,  and  its  mem- 
bership increased.  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  being  their  minister ;  but, 
on  his  retirement,  the  organization  gradually  diminished,  until 
public  service  was  discontinued.  Some  of  the  members 
returned  to  the  old  First  Church,  some  have  removed  from 
town,  others  have  died  ;  so  that,  the  Third  Congregational 
Church  and  Society  has  become  virtually  extinct.  Those, 
yet  living  amongst  us,  generally  attend  these  services,  and 
walk  in  harmony  and  fellowship  with  this  Church  and 
Society.  Their  meeting-house  was  removed  to  the  opposite 
side  of   the  street  to  a  site  near  the  meeting-house  of  the 


63 

First  Church.  Subsequently  it  was  yielded  to  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  fitted  up  for  a  place  of  worship  to  accommodate  St. 
Clement's  School,  which  was  located  here  for  a  few  years.  It  was 
finally  burned  in  the  winter  of  1 870-1.  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey,  on 
retiring  from  public  service,  worshipped  with  this  congregation. 
He  was  present  in  the  Council  that  installed  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts. 
His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  Dec.  19, 
1 86 1.  He  died  "beloved  and  respected  by  all  the  people" 
among  whom  he  had  lived  and  labored  for  so  many  years. 

Mrs.  Bailey  survived  her  husband,  and  died  June  16,  1863. 

Their  daughter,  Mrs.  Baker,  we  are  happy  to  see  with  us 
to-day;  another  daughter  resides  in  Philadelphia;  and  the 
only  son  has  for  many  years  been  in  the  successful  practice  of 
medicine  in  Pittsfield. 

HISTORY    OF    THE    FIRST    CHURCH,    RESUMED. 

Soon  after  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey's  dismission,  the  Rev.  Eli 
Thurston,  who  afterward  became  the  somewhat  eminent  Dr. 
Thurston  of  Fall  River,  was  employed  to  supply  the  pulpit 
here  for  one  year.  The  preaching  of  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston  was 
very  direct  and  pungent.  I  am  told  that  he  held  up  to  the 
people,  in  an  impressive  manner,  the  so-called,  "  Stern  Pauline 
truths  of  the  Gospel,"  taking  many  Texts  from  the  Epistle  to 
the  Romans. 

His  preaching  seemed  to  be  attended  remarkably  by  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  whole  place  was  moved ;  a 
great  awakening  came ;  as  the  results  of  the  Revival  there 
were  some  sixty  persons  received  to  the  Church.  On  a  single 
day,  April  2,  1837,  forty-five  were  received  by  confession 
of  faith.  Many  of  these  have  died  and  removed,  yet  some 
remain  with  us,  and  are  to-day  the  most  substantial  members 
of  this  Church. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  Church  Covenant  was 
revised  and  Articles  of  Faith  adopted,  as  they  now  appear  in 
our  printed  Church  Manual. 


64 

In  July,  1837,  a  perfectly  unanimous  call  was  given  to  Rev. 
Sewall  Harding,  of  Waltham,  to  settle  Pastor  of  this  Church. 
The  salary  voted  was  $600,  with  a  vacation  of  two  Sabbaths. 
Rev.  Mr.  Harding  was  a  native  of  Medway ;  had  fitted  for 
college,  in  part,  under  the  instruction  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wright ; 
had  become  interested  in  personal  religion,  while  a  student 
here,  and  united  with  this  Church  May  30,  18 13.  After 
graduating  at  Union  College,  in  the  Class  of  18 18,  he  returned 
to  this  town  and  studied  Theology  with  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  d.d., 
Pastor  of  the  Second  Church.  He  married  for  his  wife  one 
of  the  most  devotedly  pious  and  active  Christian  young  ladies 
of  this  Parish,  Miss  Eliza  Wheeler ;  and  at  the  time  he  received 
this  call,  he  had  been  for  some  years  Pastor  of  the  Church  in 
Waltham.  Rev.  Mr.  Harding  returned  his  letter  of  acceptance, 
dated  Waltham,  Sept.  15.  1837,  and  was  installed  the  sixth 
Pastor  of  this  Church  Nov.  i,  1837. 

Ten  Churches  were  represented  in  the  Council.  Rev. 
David  Long,  of  Milford,  was  chosen  Moderator.  The  Sermon 
of  Installation  was  preached  by  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  d.  d.,  of  the 
Second  Church ;  Installing  Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Cummings,  of 
North  Wrentham  ;  Charge  to  the  Pastor  by  the  Moderator  ; 
the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship  by  Rev.  David  Brigham,  of 
Framingham ;  and  the  Address  to  the  People  by  Rev.  Elam 
Smalley,  of  Franklin. 

1837  —  SIXTH    PASTORATE. 1851. 

At  the  opening  of  Rev.  Mr.  Harding's  ministry  the  Church 
numbered  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  (fifty-seven  Males,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  Females).  This  is  probably  the  largest 
living  membership  that  the  Church  has  ever  numbered. 

In  this  pastorate  of  fourteen  years  some  sixty  were  added ; 
about  forty  were  by  confession  of  faith.  It  was  early  in 
Rev.  Mr.  Harding's  ministry  that  the  Church  passed  a  resolu- 
tion  in   regard   to   those    persons   who,   having   sought   dis- 


65 

mission  regularly,  but  not  having  obtained  it,  set  up  a  new 
organization  called  the  "Third  Congregational  Church":  — 

"Resolved,  That  we  regard  ourselves  as  absolved  from  our 
Covenant  obligations  to  them ;  and  having  gone  out  from  us, 
we  no  longer  regard  them  as  members  of  our  body." 

In  September,  1838,  was  organized 

THE    VILLAGE    CHURCH. 

The  first  Pastor  of  this  new  Church,  Rev.  David  Sanford, 
the  grandson  of  the  second  Pastor  of  the  Second  Church,  was 
installed  Oct.  3,  1838. 

Rev^  Mr.  Sanford  was  a  native  of  Medway,  graduated  at 
Brown  University  in  1825,  studied  Theology  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Ide  and  at  Andover  Seminary.  He  was  two  years  Pastor  at 
Newmarket,  New  Hampshire,  eight  years  Pastor  in  Dorches- 
ter, from  whence  he  came  to  labor  "amongst  his  own  people." 
His  ministry  was  one  of  great  usefulness,  for  the  qualities  of 
the  man  made  it  impossible  that  it  should  be  otherwise. 

In  1 87 1  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  relinquished  the  active  duties  of 
his  pastorate,  and  Feb.  13,  1872,  Rev.  R.  K.  Harlow  was  in- 
stalled Junior  Pastor  of  the  Church.  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  lived 
in  feeble  health,  but  preaching  occasionally,  and  in  other  ways, 
like  the  Master,  "  doing  good,"  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
Dec.  17,  1875. 

Rev.  Mr.  Harlow  is  fulfilling  a  ministry  of  great  acceptance 
and  ability,  and  with  the  seal  of  God's  blessing  upon  it.  The 
resident  membership  of  the  Village  Church  is  about  two 
hundred. 

HISTORY    OF    THE    FIRST    CHURCH    RESUMED. 

While  Rev.  Mr.  Harding  was  Pastor  the  slavery  agitation 
commenced,  and  the  old  Church  of  Christ  in  Medway, 
although  in  her  early  history  holding  slaves,  was  none  the 
less  true  to  Christian  instincts  and  the  progress  of  ideas. 
She  took  decidedly  anti-slavery  ground,  and  published  to 
9 


66 

the  country  and  the  world  her  sentiments,  as  we  see  from 
the  following  record:  "On  the  second  of  September,  1842, 
the  Church  voted  unanimously  the  following 

PREAMBLE    AND    RESOLUTIONS. 

Whereas,  The  Christian  Ciiurch  is  established  to  be  tlie  hght  of  the 
world,  and  the  great  instrument  in  the  great  work  of  the  world's  reforma- 
tion.    It  is  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Church  ought  to  bear  decided  testimony  against 
all  sin,  and  especially  reprove  with  all  tenderness  and  fidelity  those  mem- 
bers of  the  Cliristian  body  who  persist  in  open  transgression. 

Reiioh'ed,  That  the  system  of  Slavery,  as  it  exists  in  the  United 
States,  and  as  tolerated  in  many  Churches  in  our  land,  is  a  violation  of 
the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel ;  inasmuch  as  it  withholds  from 
almost  three  millions  of  the  human  family  their  personal  freedom,  denies 
them  generally  the  means  of  education,  the  privileges  and  protection  of 
civil  institutions,  the  sacred  rights  of  matrimony,  and  the  due  reward  of 
their  labor,  thus  reducing  them  to  and  holding  them  in  a  state  of  oppres- 
sion, ignorance,  and  moral  degradation  scarcely  paralleled  in  the  civilized 
world. 

Resolved,  That  we  feel  constrained,  in  the  spirit  of  meekness,  to  re- 
prove and  rebuke  all  professing  Christians,  ministers,  and  Churches  who 
tolerate  Slavery  in  word  or  deed,  and  that  we  cannot  extend  the  fellowship 
of  the  Gospel  to  those  who  continue  to  enslave  their  fellow-men  after  the 
faithful  admonition  of  their  Christian  brethren. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  published  in  the  Boston  Re- 
corder, The  New  England  Puritan,  and  The  New  York  Evangelist, 
signed  by  the  Pastor  and  ofificers  of  the  Church." 

"  The  above  resolutions  were  signed  and  published  as  above  voted. 
Attest,  SEWALL  HARDING,  Pastor." 

(See  Vol.  IV,  Church  Records,  page  25.) 

By  a  communication  dated  April  8,  1849,  ^^^-  Mr.  Harding 
asked  to  be  released  from  active  service,  and  relinquished  his 
salary  with  a  view  to  the  settlement  of  a  Colleague.  To  this 
the  Church  and  Parish  consented  ;  and  Oct.  4,  1849,  called  as 
Junior  Pastor,  Rev.  T.  F.  Clary,  of  New  Ipswich,  N.  H. 
Rev.  Mr.  Clary  declined  the  call.  April  26,  1850,  a  call  was 
extended  to  Rev.  Albert  Tcele,  which  was  also  declined. 
Meanwhile  the  Parish  had  been  busy  in  erecting  a  new  house 
of  public  worship. 


67 


1850 — FOURTH    MEETING-HOUSE, 

The  house  of  God  in  which  we  are  now  assembled. 

The  vote  to  build  was  passed  by  the  Parish  June  25,  1849. 
After  some  difference  of  view  expressed,  it  was  finally  voted 
to  erect  the  new  meeting-house  in  a  new  locality,  and  the 
present  site  was  chosen.  The  land  was  given  for  the  purpose 
by  Henry  Richardson,  Esq ,  embracing  what  are  now  com- 
mons about  this  edifice. 

Sept.  10,  1849,  Joseph  L.  Richardson,  Jr.,  was  chosen  Build- 
ing Committee  ;  Messrs.  Melvin  &  Page  were  the  Contract- 
ors. The  cost  was  about  $6,000,  which  was  covered  by  the 
valuation  placed  upon  the  pews. 

This  house  was  dedicated  Nov.  13,  1850.  The  Sermon  on 
the  occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  Samuel  Hunt,  then  of 
Franklin,  afterwards  the  Private  Secretary  of  our  late  Vice- 
President,  the  lamented  Hon.  Henry  Wilson,  of  Natick. 
Since  its  erection,  in  1854,  the  bell  became  disabled,  and  was 
exchanged  for  a  new  one  from  the  foundry  of  Holbrook  & 
Son.  In  1857  this  house  was  re-painted;  and  in  1867,  thor- 
oughly remodelled  and  enlarged  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $5,000. 
The  gallery  was  lowered,  a  recess  made  in  the  rear  of  the 
pulpit,  twenty  pews  added,  the  organ  repaired,  and  the  audi- 
ence-room neatly  frescoed,  giving  us  this  pleasant  place  of 
worship. 

April  4,  1 85  I,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  James  M.  Bacon, 
of  Newton,  which  was  declined. 

The  following  Sept.  4,  185 1,  a  very  unanimous  invitation 
was  voted  to  Rev.  John  O.  Means  to  settle  as  Pastor.  The 
salary  was  $800,  with  four  weeks  vacation.  The  call  was 
accepted.  A  Council  was  assembled  Dec.  3,  185 1.  By 
advice  of  this  Council,  Rev.  Sewall  Harding  was  dismissed, 
and  Rev.  John  O.  Means  was  ordained,  and  became  the 
seventh  Pastor  of  this  Church.  The  Ordination  Sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Benj.  Tappan,  d.  d  ,  of  Augusta,  Me. 


68 

Rev.  John  Dwight,  of  North  Wrentham,  made  the  Ordain- 
ing Prayer.  Rev.  J.  T.  Tucker,  of  Holliston,  gave  the  Charge 
to  the  Pastor  ;  Rev.  A.  Swazey  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellow- 
ship ;  and  the  retiring  Pastor,  Rev.  Sewall  Harding,  made  the 
Address  to  the  People. 

185  I  SEVENTH  PASTORATE. 1855. 

Rev.  Mr.  Means  was  a  native  of  Augusta,  graduated  at 
Bowdoin  College,  and  studied  Theology  at  Bangor  Seminary. 

Early  in  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Means  there  occurred 
an  occasion  of  great  solemnity  and  interest  to  the  Church 
and  people  of  the  First  Parish.     I  refer  to  the 

ORDINATION    OF    MR.   AUGUSTUS   WALKER   AS    A    MISSIONARY    OF 
THE    AMERICAN    BOARD. 

After  his  appointment,  this  Church  invited  Mr.  Walker  to 
be  ordained  by  them  with  advice  of  Council.     This  invitation . 
was  accepted. 

Accordingly,  Oct.  13,  1852,  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  was 
convened  for  this  purpose,  and  Mr.  Walker  was  ordained  as  a 
Missionary  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  to  Assyria,  to  be  stationed  in 
Diarbekir. 

The  Sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Swan  L.  Pomroy,  d.d.  ; 
Ordaining  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  d.d.  ;  Charge 
was  given  by  Rev.  Sewall  Harding,  and  the  Right  Hand  of 
Fellowship  by  Rev.  Horace  D.  Walker. 

Just  before  these  public  services  of  the  afternoon  Mr. 
Walker  was  married,  in  the  presence  of  the  assembly,  to  Miss 
Eliza  M.  Harding  by  Rev.  Sewall  Harding,  the  father  of  the 
Bride,  assisted  by  Rev.  H.  D.  Walker,  a  brother  of  the  Bride- 
groom. 

Rev.  and  Mrs..  Walker  sailed  Jan.  7,  1853,  for  their  field  of 
missionary  labor.     Rev.  Mr.  Walker  arrived  in  Diarbekir,  on 


69 

the  river  Tigris,  April  27,  1853,  where  he  labored  for  thirteen 
years  with  great  fidelity  and  success.  He  died  of  cholera 
after  a  short  illness,  Sept.  13,  1866.  For  a  brief  sketch  of 
this  good  man's  life  and  christian  services,  I  must  refer  you 
to  the  Missionary  Herald,  for  February,  1867.  His  wife  soon 
after  returned  to  this  country,  and  for  some  years  has  been 
doing  a  noble  service  by  making  her  residence  in  Auburn- 
dale  a  delightful  home  for  the  children  of  missionaries  that 
are  sent  to  this  country  to  be  educated. 

Rev.  Augustus  Walker  was  a  son  of  Dean  Walker,  Esq.,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  the  town,  and  for  many  years  a  devoted 
member  of  this  Church. 

The  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Means  was  hardly  four  years  in 
length.  At  its  commencement  the  Church  numbered  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-two  members.  During  his  ministry,  twenty- 
six  were  added,  fifteen  of  these  by  confession  of  faith.  The 
influence  of  this  short  pastorate  was  very  great,  not  only  in 
the  Church  but  in  the  whole  community.  A  spirit  of  public 
improvement  was  inspired,  and  the  name  of  this  Pastor  is 
still  peculiarly  fragrant  throughout  the  Parish  in  the  kindest 
remembrances  of  the  people,  as  is  his  presence  with  us  to-day 
one  of  the  most  gratifying  features  of  this  occasion.  Rev.  Mr. 
Means  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request  and  the  regret  of  the 
people,  Sept.  4,  1855.  On  leaving  Medway  he  travelled  abroad, 
and  subsequently  to  his  return  was  settled  as  Pastor  of  the 
Vine  Street  Church  in  Roxbury,  now  Boston  Highlands,  where, 
although  having  resigned  the  active  duties  for  other  important 
public  labors,  he  still  remains  a  revered  and  beloved  Pastor. 

For  more  than  a  year  the  Church  was  without  a  Pastor,  and 
the  pulpit  supplied  by  different  ministers,  among  whom  were 
Rev.  Horace  D.  Walker,  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs,  Rev.  Sewall  Hard- 
ing, Rev.  Jacob  Roberts,  and  Rev.  T.  T.  Richmond. 

In  April,  1856,  the  Church  and  Parish  united  in  an  invita- 
tion to  Rev.  Jacob  Roberts,  of  Fairhaven,  to  become  their 
Pastor,  the  annual  salary  to  be  $800,  with  a  vacation  of  four 
Sabbaths.     Rev.  Mr.  Roberts  returned  a  letter  of  acceptance 


70 

dated  "  Fairhaven,  June  12,  1856,"  and  was  installed  the 
eighth  Pastor  of  this  Church  Oct.  9,  1856.  The  sermon  on 
the  occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  James  A.  Roberts,  of  Berk- 
ley, a  brother  of  the  Pastor  elect.  The  text  was  Ps.  49:  8, — 
"  For  the  redemption  of  their  soul  is  precious,"  etc.  Installing 
Prayer  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Tucker,  of  Holliston  ;  Charge  to  the 
Pastor  by  Rev.  Jacob  Ide,  d.  d.  ;  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship 
by  Rev.  H.  D.  Walker,  of  East  Abington,  and  the  Address 
to  the  People  by  Rev.  S.  Harding,  of  Auburndale.  Rev. 
Luther  Bailey,  Rev.  Sewall  Harding,  and  Rev.  John  O.  Means, 
former  Pastors,  were  present  in  the  Council. 

1856 EIGHTH    PASTORATE iS/I. 

Rev.  Mr.  Roberts'  ministry  extended  over  a  period  of  fifteen 
years,  and  was  greatly  blessed  of  God.  Ninety-three  persons 
were  added  to  the  Church,  about  seventy  of  these  on  confes- 
sion of  faith.  Over  forty  were  added  in  the  single  year  of 
1866,  the  results  of  a  revival.  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts'  health 
failed,  and  he  sent  in  his  resignation  Oct.  14,  1870,  and  it  was 
accepted  ;  but  his  pastoral  relation  was  not  formally  termi- 
nated, by  advice  of  Council,  until  Nov.  [5,  1871,  the  day  his 
successor  was  installed. 

After  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts  relinquished  active  service  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  various  clergymen,  among  whom  were 
Rev.  Alexis  W.  Ide,  Rev.  R.  M.  Sargent,  Rev.  Henry  W. 
Jones  ;  the  latter  received  a  call  to  settle  January,  1871,  but 
declined  it.  During  the  following  summer.  Rev.  Wm.  F. 
Bacon,  of  Amesbury,  supplied  the  pulpit  for  three  or  four 
months  with  great  acceptance. 

In  September  of  this  year  an  invitation  to  settle  in  the 
ministry  was  received  and  accepted  by  your  present  Pastor. 
The  salary  voted  was  $^1,500.  The  Installation  took  place  on 
Wednesday,  Nov.  15,  1871.  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Spalding,  d.d., 
of  Newburyport,  was  Moderator  of  the  Council.  The  vener- 
able Sewall  Harding,  of  Auburndale,  Rev.  John  O.  Means,  d.d.. 


71 

of  Boston  Highlands,  and  Rev.  Jacob  Roberts,  of  Auburn- 
dale,  former  Pastors,  were  present  in  the  Council.  Rev. 
Dr.  Means  preached  the  Sermon  ;  Rev.  J.  M.  R.  Eaton,  of 
Medfield,  made  the  Installing  Prayer  ;  Rev.  Dr.  S.  J.  Spald- 
ing, of  Newburyport,  delivered  the  Charge  to  the  Pastor  ; 
Rev.  S.  Knowlton,  of  West  Medvvay,  gave  the  Right  Hand 
of  Fellowship ;  and  Rev.  Jacob  Roberts,  the  retiring  Pastor, 
the  Address  to  the  People. 

1 87  I  NINTH    PASTORATE. 

In  these  nearly  five  years  little  has  occurred  to  mention 
here.  Fair  prosperity  attends  us,  and  a  spirit  of  harmony  and 
hopefulness  prevails.  Thirty  persons  have  been  added  to  the 
Church,  and  the  entire  membership  at  this  date  is  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six  (males,  41  ;  females,  ninety-five),  hardly 
larger  than  it  was  at  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Means, 
twenty-five  years  ago,  but  more  than  double  the  number  of 
members  at  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  nearly  eighty 
years  ago. 

The  whole  number  of  names  preserved  on  record  of  the 
members  of  this  Church  is  seven  hundred  and  thirty-six. 
This  total  includes  only  three  names  of  members  prior  to  the 
settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bucknam,  the  second  Pastor,  in  1724. 

At  the  settlement  of  the  present  Pastor  the  Parish  felt  the 
need  of  a  parsonage,  and  soon  were  very  willingly  committed 
to  the  enterprise  of  building  by  the  receipt  of  twenty-five 
dollars  from  an  unknown  hand  for  that  purpose.  A  site  was 
selected  nearly  opposite  the  meeting-house,  contracts  made, 
and  in  the  early  spring  work  commenced  and  pushed  vigor- 
ously forward,  so  that  on  the  first  of  November,  1872,  the 
minister  and  his  family  entered  upon  its  occupancy.  Subse- 
quently, in  the  autumn  of  1S74,  by  the  enterprise  of  the 
ladies  of  the  Parish,  a  stable  was  erected  adjacent  to  the  par- 
sonage. The  total  cost  of  these  new  buildings,  with  the  land 
connected  with  them,  was  nearly  $6,000. 


72 

There  is  now  on  foot  the  building  of  a  Chapel  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Branch  Sabbath  School  and  Sabbath 
Evening  Service  in  Rockville.  The  movement  is  likely  to 
succeed,  and  the  Chapel  will  go  up  this  winter.  The  Sabbath 
School  gathered  there  numbers  about  fifty  members,  and  a 
regular  Sabbath  Evening  Service  is  held  once  a  month  by  the 
Pastor,  and  oftener  when  it  is  practicable. 

Thus,  in  these  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  years  under  re- 
view, this  Church  of  Christ  has  built  four  meeting-houses, 
settled  nine  Pastors,  elected  twenty-three  Deacons,  main- 
tained public  worship,  sustained  a  Sabbath  School  for  sixty 
years,  a  Branch  Sabbath  School  for  twenty  years,  prayer 
meetings  weekly  and  monthly  for  three-score  years,  sent 
forth  from  its  members  eight  or  ten  ministers  of  the  Gospel, 
two  missionaries,  a  number,  perhaps  a  score,  of  ministers' 
wives  of  the  very  best  quality,  and  a  multitude  of  Christian 
men  and  women  to  let  their  light  shine  in  widely  scattered 
places.  Who  can  measure  the  influence  for  good  of  this 
Church  of  Christ  in  this  period  of  the  past,  or  forecast  what 
she  is  yet  to  do  in  the  future  for  human  salvation  and  God's 
glory ! 

INCIDENTAL    MATTERS    AND    CONCLUDING    REMARKS. 

Church  Covenant.  —  This  has  been  changed.  I  am  unde- 
cided whether  the  one  already  introduced,  written  on  the  same 
sheet  and  by  the  same  hand  as  the  "  Halfway  Covenant,"  ante- 
dates the  one  referred  to  in  the  renewal  of  Covenant  in  1736. 
It  may  be,  that  it  was  adopted  subsequently,  possibly  in  the 
ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Green,  or  early  in  that  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Wright.  It  certainly  was  the  Covenant  of  the  Church  in 
1808,  as  we  see  from  the  Result  of  Council  of  that  date,  in 
which  the  following  clause  is  quoted  as  from  the  covenant  of 
this  Church  :  "and  duly  to  attend  the  ordinances  of  Christ  in 
tills  Church  as  long  as  your  opportunity  thereby  to  be  edified 
in  your  holy  faith  shall  be  co.itinued  to  you."    And  it  was  the 


11 

Covenant  in  use  in  1827,  as  a  copy  of  it  made  at  that  time  is 
extant,  and  superscribed  "Church  Covenant."  This  continued 
in  use  probably  until  about  i836.-  when  the  one  now  used 
was  adopted,  together  with  the  Confession  of  Faith  prefixed 
as  found  in  our  Church  Manual,  printed  in  1837,  and  reprinted 
in  1870.  I  am  not  aware  that  this  Church,  until  thus  recently, 
submitted  to  candidates  for  admission,  for  their  public  assent, 
a  Confession  of  Faith,  but  they  were  admitted  on  accepting 
the  Covenant. 

Church  Music.  —  This  has  been  sustained  from  a  very  early 
day,  and  regulated  by  the  Church. 

Oct.  8,  1736,  the  Church  voted, 

"That  none  but  y*  Tunes  set  down  in  the  latter  end  of  Our  Old  Psalm 
Books  should  be  set  in  the  Church  at  the  Sacrament  and  at  Church  Meet- 
ings." 

The  first  Hymn  Books  used  were  the  Metred  Psalms,  and  a 
"  New  Version  of  Psalms,  by  Tate  &  Brady,  with  a  small  col- 
lection of  Watts'  Hymns."  The  latter  was  used  at  the  close 
of  Mr.  Bucknam's  Ministry.  Then  came  "  Belknap's  selection 
of  Psalms  and  Hymns,"  in  Rev.  Mr.  Wright's  day.  Subse- 
quently Watts'  and  Select  Hymns  were  used,  and  ten  years 
ago,  in  1 856,  The  Sabbath  Hymn  Book  was  adopted,  which  is 
still  in  use. 

In  1794  The  Parish  voted  a  committee  of  nine  men  to  con- 
sider and  report :  "  On  what  principle  the  Front  Gallery  may 
be  given  to  the  singers."  The  result  was  that  the  dignifying 
of  the  pews  was  abandoned,  and  the  front  gallery  devoted  to 
the  use  of  those  "  that  carry  on  the  exercise  of  singing  in  time 
of  Divine  service." 

Appropriations  of  money  were  made  by  the  Parish  repeatedly 
in  the  early  and  later  times  for  the  support  of  a  singing  school, 
in  order  to  raise  up  singers  for  service  in  the  sanctuary. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  b.y  the  Church  from  time  to  time 
to  encourage  persons  to  take  part  in  this  important  service  of 
worship. 


74 

Nov.  17,  1806,  voted  unanimously  the  following:  — 

"The  First  Church  in  Medway,  being  sensible  that  singing  is  a  part  of 
Public  Worship  and  that  it  ought  to  be  performed  by  every  worshipping 
assembly,  but  as  it  has  been  too  much  neglected,  we,  the  Church  in  this 
place,  earnestly  request  Mr.  Joseph  Abbe  and  Mr.  Joseph  Partridge  to 
lead  in  singing,  or  any  other  person  so  disposed  ;  also,  request  all  the 
singers  to  join  with  tliem,  that  we  may  have  singing  in  the  congregation 
at  all  times  when  needed,  and  you  shall  receive  the  thanks  of  the  Church." 

Two  years  later,  in  1808,  the  Church  voted  in  public  meet- 
ing thi.s  request :  — 

"That  the  singers  among  us  meet  and  if  possible  unite  in  opening  a 
Singing  School  for  their  own  improvement  and  for  the  instruction  of 
those  young  persons  among  us  who  may  wish  to  become  acquainted  with 
this  useful  art.'' 

Dec.  5,  1834,  is  entered  in  the  Church  Records  this  min- 
ute:  "At  regular  Church  Meeting,  after  Lecture,  Brother 
Oliver  Phillips  was  chosen  Chorister  of  the  Church," 

This  position  Mr.  Phillips,  who  is  still  living,  and  with  us 
to-day  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety,  continued  to  hold  for 
many  years. 

The  reading  of  the  Scriptures  as  a  part  of  public  service 
was  not  the  ancient  practice.  It  was  not  adopted  until  some- 
time in  Rev.  Mr.  Wright's  ministry,  and  then,  with  a  struggle. 

It  was  proposed  in  Church  Meeting,  June  5,  1806,  but  ob- 
jected to  so  strongly  by  brethren  that  a  vote  was  not  pressed 
at  that  meeting  ;  but  soon  afterward  it  was  voted,  and  the 
Scriptures  have  been  read  in  public  service  ever  since.  But 
it  was  doubtless  regarded  by  the  croakers  of  that  early  day  as 
a  great  innovation.  We  see  that  change  may  be  improve- 
ment ;  and  we  discover  also  that  this  Church  has  ever  been 
alive  to  improvement  by  change,  and  has  not  valued  and  clung 
to  anything  merely  because  old  ;  that  it  can  change  its  prac- 
tices easily,  and  does  not  care  to  go  in  a  treadmill  or  to  be 
kept  in  the  old  ruts.  I  trust  this  spirit  is  still  alive  in  the 
P'irst  Church  to-day. 

This  Church  has  taken  action  on  various  other  matters  of 


75 

discipline  and  practice,  e.g.,  in  regard  to  its  members  joining 
Baptist  Churches,  in  regard  to  Infant  Baptism,  in  regard  to 
Slavery,  Dancing,  and  Female  Suffrage,  all  of  which  illustrate 
the  living  and  progressive  spirit  of  the  body  exceedingly  hon- 
orable to  her  history.  But  for  an  account  of  all  this  I  must 
refer  you  to  the  Church  Records. 

Grants,  Donations,  and  Legacies. — The  Town  granted  to 
their  first  Pastor  twenty-eight  acres  of  land  south  of  Bare 
Hills,  and  two  acres  for  a  "  Building  Lot  near  the  Meeting- 
house." 

The  Town,  under  the  same  date,  April  20,  1715,  also  granted 
twenty  acres  of  woodland  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  irf  Medway. 

The  first  legacy  to  this   Church  was  by  the  Will  of  Mrs. 

Mehitable  Hill,  widow  of  Enoch,  who  died  May  10,  1798.    The 

item  of  the  Will  read  as  follows  :  — 

"  I  give  to  the  Church  in  the  East  Precinct  in  the  Town  of  Medway 
the  sum  often  dollars  to  be  kept  b}'  a  Committee  of  the  Church  on  in- 
terest forever.  The  interest  to  be  spent,  annually  or  otherwise,  as  the 
Church  may  direct  from  time  to  time." 

This  Mrs.  Hill,  whose  whole  estate,  as  appears,  was  worth 
scarcely  two  hundred  dollars,  and  who  could  not  write  her 
name,  but  signed  her  Will  thus  "  x'  ,"  has  the  honor  of  being 

"  mark 

the  original  founder  of  our  Church  Fund.  This  fund  now 
amounts  to  $10,700,  in  investments,  worth  probably  about 
§13,000.  No  one  living  knows  who  this  Mrs.  Hill  was,  or 
where  she  lived,  but  she  builded  in  Zion  a  monument  to  her 
piety  that  will  stand  forever. 

By  bequest,  Mrs.  Jemima  Lovell,  second  wife  of  Capt. 
Joseph,  who  died  Oct.  27,  18 14.  left  money  to  purchase  a  Com- 
munion Service  for  the  use  of  the  Church.  This  was  purchased 
in  1817,  and  remained  in  use  for  many  years. 

June  29,  18 1 8,  the  following  communication  was  made  :  — 

"To  THE  FiKST  Church  of  Christ  in  Medway. 

"Beloved :  —  Whereas  I  the  subscriber  being:  desirous  of  doing  some- 
thing for  the  good  of  this  Church  and  the  cause  of  religion  in   this  place, 


76 

do  ofFer  for  your  acceptance  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  as  a 
donation  to  this  Church,  to  be  loaned  on  good  security  to  the  acceptance 
ofsaiJ  Church  forever,  &  the  interest  of  the  above  sum  to  be  spent  an- 
na illy  in  providing  Bread  &  Wine  for  the  Communion,  if  wanted.  Wish- 
ing you  grace,  mercy  &  peace  I  subscribe  myself  your  sister  in  the  faith 
&  fellowship  of  the  Gospel." 

(Signed)  "  Eunice  Daniels." 

"  The  Chh.  then  voted  acceptance  of  the  same,"  and  passed 
a  vote  of  "  thanks  to  our  Sister  Daniels  for  her  good  will  & 
donation  to  the  Church."  This  Mrs.  Daniels  was  the  wife  of 
Deacon  Asa,  the  younger. 

July  15,  1823,  the  Treasurer  reported  a  donation  of  ten 
dollars  from  Joseph  Lovell,  Esq.,  and  "  the  Church  voted 
thanks  to  Br.  Joseph  Lovell,  Esq.,  for  his  donation  of  ten 
dollars  to  the  Church." 

In  his  Will,  the  above  Joseph  Lovell,  Esq.,  who  died  Oct.  2, 
1827,  made  the  following  provision,  viz.  :  — 

"  I  give  devise  &  bequeath  unto  the  First  Church  of  Christ  in  the  East 
Parish  in  the  Town  of  Medway  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  equal  to 
silver  or  gold  to  be  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  said  Church,  and  to  be  put 
on  interest  by  said  Treasurer  and  a  Committee  chosen  by  said  Church  on 
permanent  security,  and  to  be  kept  on  interest  until  said  sum  shall  amount 
to  one  thousand  dollars :  then  the  one  thousand  dollars  shall  be  kept  on 
interest  forever,  and  the  interest  of  said  one  thousand  dollars  shall  go 
toward  the  support  of  a  Calvinistic  Gospel  Minister  in  said  Parish  for 
ever,  to  be  under  the  direction  of  the  Church. 

The  above  said  Legacy  is  to  be  paid  by  my  executor  in  one  year  after 
my  decease. 

The  above  said  Legacy  is  for  to  lay  the  foundation  for  a  Fund  for  the 
Support  of  the  Gospel  in  said  Parish." 

Dea.  Asa  Daniels,  who  died  June  7,  1840,  by  his  Last  Will 

and  Testament  made  the  following  provisions,  viz. :  — 

"  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  unto  the  Church  of  the  First  Cong. 
Society  in  the  East  Parish  in  said  Medway  and  their  successors  forever, 
the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  the  capital  of  which  to  be  kept  entire  and 
the  income  thereof  to  be  appropriated  annually  toward  the  support  and 
niaintainance  of  a  Protestant,  Calvinistic  Minister  in  said  Parish." 

In  a  Codicil  is  the  following :  — 


11 

"  I  do  hereby  order  &  declare  that  my  will  is,  that  if  at  the  time  of 
her  (his  wife's)  decease  any  of  such  estate  shall  remain  unexpended  by  her, 
then  and  in  such  case  I  give  &  bequeath  such  surplus  (except  the  iiouse- 
hold  furniture  and  indoor  moveables)  if  any  such  surplus  shall  remain 
after  the  payment  of  my  just  debts  and  all  tlie  legacies  bequeathed  by  me 
in  said  Will  and  all  her  just  debts,  unto  the  Church  of  the  First  Cong. 
Society  in  East  Parisli  in  said  Medway  and  their  successors  forever. 
The  capital  of  wliich  to  be  added  to  the  Legacy  given  to  said  Church  in 
&  by  my  last  Will  and  Testament.  The  income  only  to  be  appropriated 
annually  toward  the  support  and  maintainance  of  a  Protestant  Calvinistic 
Minister  in  said  Parish,  as  is  expressed  in  the  legacy  aforesaid." 

The  avails  of  the  entire  bequest  of  Dea.  Asa  Daniels 
amounted  to  $8,250. 

The  Church  Fund,  thus  constituted  by  the  gifts  and  be- 
quests of  the  friends  of  Christ  and  of  the  First  Church,  has 
yielded  annually  a  handsome  income,  which  has  been,  and 
still  is,  of  great  service  in  the  maintenance  of  a  Gospel 
Ministry ;  and  I  do  not  think  that,  to  any  general  extent,  it 
has  nourished  the  spirit  of  illiberality,  as  is  said  often  to  be 
the  case.  There  have  been  other  calls  on  the  purses  of  the 
people,  sufficient  to  keep  their  hearts  open. 

Not  abusing  the  gifts  of  God,  we  may  sincerely  hope  that 
"  to  him  that  hath  shall  be  given,"  until  the  Parish  shall  "  owe 
no  man  anything."  Furthermore,  may  the  means  be  forth- 
coming to  erect  the  proposed  Chapel  in  Rockville  and  to 
improve  the  vestry  and  grounds  of  this  house  in  which  we 
worship. 

We  trust  the  First  Church  still  has,  among  the  living, 
friends  disposed  and  able,  either  while  living  or  at  least  by 
their  Wills,  to  cause  this  ancient  Church  of  Christ  to  rejoice  in 
their  piety  and  thoughtfulness  for  Zion. 

But  above  all  may  we  hope  that  God,  the  Great  Friend  of 
past  generations  and  of  us,  may  grant  unto  us  who  fill  the 
places  of  the  honored  and  pious  dead  the  richest  legacies  of 
his  Spirit  and  grace. 

We  can  but  feel  impressed  with  the  power  for  good,  the 
moral  and  religious  force,  this  Church  of  Christ  has  been  all 


78 

these  years  in  the  town  of  Medway,  and  also  with  the  great 
indebtedness  of  the  people  now  living  within  this  ancient 
Precinct,  whether  attendant  on  these  services  or  not,  to  their 
ancestors  and  predecessors,  who  established  so  long  ago  and 
have  maintained  to  this  day  this  Church  of  Christ  and  its 
public  worship. 

Of  the  great  multitude  of  interesting  local  facts  of  the 
Town  and  this  ancient  Church,  I  have  brought  to  your  notice 
but  a  few ;  yet  perhaps  enough  to  show  that  the  spirit  of  the 
early  days  and  of  later  times  has  been  a  religious  spirit ;  that 
the  men  and  women,  who  settled  these  lands,  thought,  first  of 
all,  for  the  religious  welfare  of  themselves,  their  children,  and 
those  that  might  succeed  them.  While  we  honor  their  piety 
and  build 'their  sepulchres  with  our  praises,  let  us  not  con- 
demn ourselves.  My  dear  hearers,  the  religion  that  was  good 
for  souls  a  century  and  a  half  ago  is  good  for  our  souls  to-day. 
It  is  the  same  old  and  blessed  religion  of  God  !  It  has  eternal 
truths  as  its  foundations  and  infinite  love  as  the  walls  of  its 
salvation.  Its  towers  and  bulwarks  are  glorious  in  tradition 
and  history.  Let  us,  then,  love  the  old  religion  and  the  old 
Zion  of  Medway.  Let  us  stand  in  their  support  and  enjoy 
their  sacred  service  and  communion  feasts.  Let  us  not  forget 
our  Jerusalem,  but,  may  Zion  be  our  chief  joy ! 

Let  our  prayer  ever  be,  "  Peace  be  within  thy  walls  and 
prosperity  within  thy  palaces."  "  Because  of  the  house  of  the 
Lord  our  God  will  I  seek  thy  good." 

"  Our  feet  shall  stand  within  thy  gates,  O  Jerusalem,"  and 
let  us  say  to  one  another,  to  our  children  and  our  children's 
children  by  our  example  and  piety  and  sacrifice,  "  Let  us  go 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord,"  "To  behold  the  beauty  of  the 
Lord  and  to  inquire  in  his  temple." 


i8i6— 1876. 
HISTORICAL    SKETCH 

OF   THE 

SABBATH     SCH  00 

OF   THE 

WiMSF  €mU'E€B  OF  €m<BlST 

IN 

MEDWAY,    MASS. 


Oct.   I,   1876. 


:B37-   til©   l='a-stor. 


THE  SABBATH  SCHOOL  OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 


Sixty  years  ago,  in  the  autumn  of  1816,  the  First  Church  in  Medvvay 
dedicated  a  new  and,  for  those  days  in  the  country,  a  beautiful  House  of 
Public  Worship.  It  was  the  immediate  predecessor  of  this  in  which  we 
are  assembled. 

On  the  same  day  of  this  Dedication,  Nov.  20,  18 16,  a  new  Pastor,  Rev. 
Luther  Bailey,  was  ordained  over  the  Church.  He  was  the  fifth  Pastor 
in  order  of  settlement. 

This  ancient  Church  of  Christ,  thus  installed  in  a  new  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  placed  under  the  pastoral  care  of  a  young,  devoted,  and  talented 
minister,  we  may  easily  conceive,  felt  a  new  impulse  of  life  and  encourage- 
ment. 

Almost  coincident  with  these  new  possessions  and  these  brightened 
prospects,  there  was  awakened  a  new  spirit  of  Christian  activity  and 
enterprise. 

This  showed  itself,  at  first,  among  a  few  of  the  ladies.  Some  of  the 
younger  ladies,  especially,  were  quite  stirred  up  to  undertake  active  Chris- 
tian work.  There  were  those  here  who  had  intimate  friends  at  school  in 
Bradford  Academy,  who,  about  that  time,  were  quite  ardently  interested 
with  others  of  that  institution  in  the  Mission  Work  among  the  Cherokee 
Indians. 

The  spirit  prevalent  in  Bradford  was  communicated  through  these 
young  lady  acquaintances  to  the  ladies  here,  and  there  was  a  deep  interest 
felt  to  do  something  for  the  Master,  if  not  among  the  Cherokees,  yet  here 
at  home.  About  this  time  also,  it  would  seem  providentially,  there  ap- 
peared articles  on  Sabbath  Schools  in  good  "  Dea.  Willis's  Paper," 
published  in  Boston,  "  The  Youth's  Companion,"  which  was  then,  as 
now,  taken  in  some  of  the  homes  of  the  Parish.  There  appeared  in 
"The  Youth's  Companion"  of  sixty  years  ago  some  account  of  Sabbath 
Schools  just  started  in  many  of  the  suburban  towns  ;  and  tiiese  accounts 
were  read  with  lively  interest  by  these  ladies. 

They  soon  learned  that  in  Dedham  and  in  Medfield  something  of  the 
kind  was  being  tried,  and  said  among  themselves,  "  Why  should  there  not 
II 


82 

be  something  new  under  the  sun  in  ?vledway"?  Borrowing  suggestions 
from  sources  above-mentioned,  inspired  by  a  spirit  of  labor  and  enter- 
prise in  Christ's  service,  these  young  ladies  made  up  their  minds  to  start 
in  this  place  a  Sabbath  School. 

Their  plans  were  not  actually  carried  into  execution  until  the  next 
spring.  There  were  obstacles  to  be  surmounted.  The  winter  was 
approaching,  which  was  unfavorable  for  starling;  they  had  no  suitable 
place  for  holding  the  school  in  cold  weather,  and  the  movement  was 
exceedingly  unpopular.  Some  of  the  best  people  looked  very  coldly  on 
the  enterprise,  and  thought  it  had  better  not  be  undertaken. 

I  am  told  that,  for  some  time,  the  young  minister  himself  seemed  to 
hesitate  to  declare  himself  favorable ;  the  Deacons  and  prominent  men 
in  the  Church  hesitated  much  longer  than  he  did,  even  said,  "  These 
young  folks  are  taking  too  much  upon  themselves  "  ;  and,  with  a  shrug 
of  sarcasm,  some  said,  "These  women  will  be  in  the  pulpit  next." 

Undaunted,  however,  at  the  coming  of  the  next  spring  with  its  warm 
sun  and  singing  birds,  these  persevering  ladies  secured  a  large,  unoccu- 
pied upper  room  in  the  building  which,  in  later  years,  was  the  residence 
of  Dr.  Gale.  The  floor  of  that  large,  empty  chamber  was  laid  with  loose 
planks,  so  that  great  care  was  needed  that  the  smalleV  children  should  not 
fall  through  the  wide  cracks. 

There  the  Sabbath  School  movement  in  Medway  was  inaugurated  by 
the  pious  devotion  and  perseverance  of  a  few  christian  ladies,  in  the 
spring  of  1 8 17. 

Tilie  number  who  were  actively  engaged  at  first  in  the  school  was  not 
more  than  six  or  eight,  and  the  number  of  children  was  not  more  than 
twenty-five  or  thirty,  but  it  was  in  this  wise  that  originated  this  first  Sab- 
bath School,  whose  Anniversary  we  observe  to-day. 

It  seems' highly  fitting  that,  now  and  here,  I  should  call  over  the  names 
of  those  noble  ladies  who  were  pioneers  in  this  enterprise,  for  their 
names  are  worthy  a  public  record  and  to  be  held  in  lasting  remembrance 
as  the 

FOUNDERS    OF   THIS   SABBATH    SCHOOL. 

These  worthy  names,  as  I  have  learned  them  from  the  lips  of  the  living, 
were  as  follows  :  — 

Miss  Sarah  Richardson  —  She  was  a  sister  of  our  venerable  friend  and 
Christian  brother.  Joseph  L.  Richardson,  Esq.,  now  in  his  ninetieth  year. 
This  young  lady  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Alvan  Bond,  d.d., 
of  Norwich,  Conn.,  a  clergyman  of  eminence,  and  still  living.  Mrs.  Bond 
has  been  dead  some  years. 

Miss  Catharine  Richardson. —  This  young  lady  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Tilly  Brown,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  removed  West  and  settled  in 
Indiana.     Mrs.  Brown  is  not  living. 


Miss  Elisa  Wheeler.  —  The  sister  of  our  Christian  brother,  Abijali  R. 
Wheeler.  She  became  the  wife  of  the  late  Rev.  Sewall  Harding,  who 
was  a  native  of  Medvvay,  and  for  fourteen  )'ears  the  lionored  Pastor  ot 
this  Church.  Mrs.  Harding  is  living,  still  young  and  sprightly,  and  her 
presence  with  us  to-day  is  a  great  joy. 

Miss  Mercy  Daniels  Wheeler. — A  sister  of  the  last.  She  became  the 
wife  of  Rev._  Jasper  Adams,  n.  d.,  a  native  of  this  Parish,  and  directly 
descended  from  Peter  Adams,  at  whose  house  the  first  Public  Worship 
in  the  Town  was  conducted  by  Rev.  David  Deming.  one  hundred  and 
sixty-two  years  ago  to-day.  This  Rev.  Dr.  Jasper  Adams,  whom  Miss 
Mercy  D.  Wlieeler  married,  was  a  man  of  eminent  learning  and  pulpit 
ability,  a  distinguished  minister,  and  for  some  years  the  honored  Presi- 
dent of  Charleston  College,  South  Carolina.  Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Adams 
are  both  dead. 

Mrs.  Mehitabel  P.  Daniels.  —  She  was  the  young  wife  of  the  late  lamented 
Jasper  Daniels,  Esq.,  of  Rockville.  Mrs.  Daniels  is  still  living,  and  we 
hoped  to  have  welcomed  her  presence  here  to-day. 

Mrs.  .Miriam  Partridge.  —  This  was  a  sister  of  the  last  named,  and  the 
wife  of  David  Partridge,  Esq. 

Miss  Abigail  M.  Harding.  —  She  became  the  wife  of  Moses  Daniels, 
Esq  ,  and  afterward  of  Mr.  John  Richardson.  She  was  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Abner  Johnson,  recently  removed  from  us. 

M7S.  Abigail  R.  Thayer.  —  This  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Abijah  Richard- 
son, who  for  so  many  years  was  the  Physician  of  the  Parish.  Mrs. 
Thayer  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Zachariah  Lovell,  who  recently 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years.  Mrs.  Lovell  died  some 
years  since. 

These  were  the  ladies  whose  names  should  be  cherished  and  remem- 
bered as  the  Founders  of  our  Sabbath  School. 

At  first  the  school  met  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  children  were  from  seven  to  fourteen  years  of  age,  divided  into 
classes  of  six  each. 

The  general  direction  of  the  school  was  committed  to  Miss  Catharine 
Richardson. 

The  school  session  was  opened  by  the  reading  of  a  Prayer,  and  some- 
times singing  by  the  Teachers.  "The  children  did  not  sing  in  meeting 
in  those  days,"  I  am  told. 

For  exercises,  the  children  committed  the  Scriptures  to  recite,  and  also 
Watts'  Hymns.     The  Shorter  Catechism  was  somewhat  in  use. 

Some  of  the  discouragements  under  which  the  enterprise  started,  were 
the  prejudices  they  encountered.  Their  minister  non-committal,  the  great 
Dr.  Emmons  expressing  doubt  as  to  the  wisdom  of  the  movement,  not  a 
single  man  of  the  Ciiurch  to  come  to  their  help,  and  all  the  outside  people 
quite  down  upon  the  undertaking.  In  such  straits,  one  of  them.  Miss 
Wheeler,  went  to  see  Madam  Prentiss,  of  Medfield,  for  consultation  as  to 


84 

giving  it  up.  She  met  there  an  earnest  Christian  lady  from  Boston,  who. 
said  to  her,  "  My  dear  child,  you  have  put  your  hand  to  the  plough,  and 
you  must  not  turn  back  !  "  She  returned  liome  greatly  comforted  and 
strengthened.  And  they  were  all  soon  cheered  and  delighted  when  their 
young  minister  took  a  decided  position  in  their  favor,  by  preaching  a  very 
stirring  sermon  on  these  words,  — 

"  Help  these  women."  —  Phil.  4  :  3. 

The  hearts  of  the  men  were  touched.  The  sympathies  of  the  good 
Dea.  Blake  were  won,  the  venerable  Uea.  Asa  Daniels  took  the  matter 
into  serious  consideration  ;  and  one  man,  Mr.  Moses  Harding,  a  brother 
of  one  of  the  ladies,  came,  the  next  Lord's  day,  into  the  school.  It  was 
not  very  long  before  a  certain  young  man  made  his  appearance  among 
these  Gospel  workers  ;  although  not  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  Church, 
yet  an  earnest  Christian,  he  took  hold  with  a  hearty  purpose  to  do  what 
he  could,  that  purpose  I  am  happy  to  believe  has  not  yet  left  him.  He 
was  the  first  one  to  open  the  school  by  extempore  prayer.  Hitherto,  the 
ladies  had  used  a  written  prayer,  prepared  for  the  purpose  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Bailey. 

This  young  man  continued  to  labor  in  the  school.  Shortly,  others 
came  in,  and  the  effort  prospered.  He  was  chosen  its  First  Superinten- 
dent ;  and  for  twenty-eight  years  he  filled  that  office  with  great  acceptance 
until  his  removal  from  the  town.  I  need  not  say  that  I  refer  to  this 
gentleman  at  my  left,  Dea.  Timothy  Walker,  of  HoUiston,  whom  we  are 
so  happy  to  have  with  us  on  this  occasion. 

The  school  was,  for  some  years,  discontinued  in  the  winter,  and 
was  removed  several  times  from  one  place  to  another.  First  held,  as 
I  have  said,  in  that  large,  upper  room  of  an  unfinished  house  ;  then  re- 
moved to  the  Office  of  Timothy  Hammond,  Esq.,  which  stood  in  the  yard 
of  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  E.  S.  Fuller  ;  next  into  the  house  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Fuller;  and  when  the  Parish  Hall  was  built,  in  1822,  it 
was  removed  to  that,  and  afterwards  to  the  meeting-house.  Since  this 
house  was  built  in  1850,  the  Sabbath  School  has  assembled  in  the  Vestry 
below.  Mr.  Timothy  Walker  was  chosen  Superintendent  in  1822,  and 
remained  in  office  until  his  resignation,  March  4,  1850.  On  the  day  of  his 
resignation  the  ladies  of  the  school,  in  recognition  of  his  long  and  able 
service,  presented  him  with  a  large  Family  Bible,  which  was  inscribed 
as  follows  :  — 

"  This  Copy  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  presented  to  Dea.  Timothy 
Walker  by  the  female  members  of  the  Sabbath  School  of  the  First  Parish 
in  Medway,  a  token  of  respect  for  his  faithful  services  and  untiring  zeal 
as  their  Superintendent  for  the  long  period  of  twenty-eight  years. 

East  Medway,  Mar.  4"i  1850." 
To  fill  the  vacancy  thus  made,  Mr.  Matthew  Brown  was  chosen  Super- 


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intendent,  and  was  re-elected  for  six  successive  years,  until  his  removal 
to  Franklin,  in  1857. 

His  successor  was  the  beloved  and  lamented  John  S.  Walker,  who 
served  the  school  very  efficiently  fourteen  years,  until  1870,  about  a  year 
prior  to  his  death. 

Since  1870  Dea.  William  Daniels  has  been  chosen  to  serve  in  the 
position,  for  which  he  is  admirably  fitted. 

For  some  twenty  years  this  school  has  had  a  branch  located  in  Rock- 
ville,  consisting  of  some  fifty  members. 

This  Branch  School  was  started  by  a  lady  who  came  to  this  Parish,  by 
marriage,  from  the  j\It.  Vernon  Church,  Boston,  of  which  Dr.  Kirk  was 
then  Pastor.  She,  not  having  good  health,  was  able  to  attend  meeting 
but  a  part  of  the  day,  and  she  knew  there  were  many  of  the  children  of 
her  neighborhood  who,  by  reason  of  distance,  could  not  attend  public 
worship  and  Sabbath  School  at  all ;  the  thought  came  to  her  of  inviting 
them  to  come  to  her  house  Sabbath  afternoons,  and  she  would  tell  them 
Bible  stories.  This  the  children  were  glad  to  do ;  so,  for  continuous 
Sabbath  afternoons,  they  came,  until  she  had  not  only  her  sitting-room 
but  several  other  rooms  quite  filled  with  eager  little  boys  and  girls.  At 
length  she  called  in  some  one  to  assist  her ;  and  shortly,  with  the  help  of 
her  good  husband  and  others  interested,  a  Branch  Sabbath  School  was 
fully  established.  A  hall  was  fitted  up  for  their  use,  and  the  enterprise 
is  still  in  successful  operation,  although  some  of  its  early  laborers  are 
now  sainted  in  Heaven  ;  one.  recently  a  Teacher,  has  gone  to  receive  her 
Crown.     I  refer  to  Miss  Nellie  Clark. 

At  present  the  two  schools  together  number  over  two  hundred  mem- 
bers, and  are  enjoying  a  good  degree  of  prosperity. 

By  this  review  it  appears  that  our  Sabbath  School  is  an  old  institution  ; 
that  those  who  were  3'oung,  the  boys  and  girls  who  were  in  it  at  its 
start,  if  living,  are  now  getting  on  in  years. 

The  ladies  who  conceived  the  idea  and  formed  the  School,  all  of  them, 
were  noble  women,  and  four  of  the  eight  became  the  wives  of  clergymen. 
Only  two  of  these  eight  remain  on  earth  ;  the  others  have  finished  their 
work  and  entered  into  rest,  the  surviving  ones  must  be  on  the  border- 
land.    May  God  bless  them  still  for  their  labor  of  love  ! 

Of  the  four  Superintendents,  all  are  living  but  one,  and  he,  good  man  ! 
died  early,  too  early ;  for  he  could  ill  be  spared  by  his  family,  by  the 
Church,  by  the  Sabbath  School,  and  by  the  community. 

The  Teachers  and  Scholars  of  the  school  in  these  sixty  years,  —  how 
many  is  their  number  ?  What  have  they  done  in  the  world,  and  where 
are  they  to-day  ?  Many  in  Heaven,  some  scattered  widely,  others  here. 
Our  number  keeps  about  the  same.  "  One  generation  passeth  and 
another  generation  cometh."  How  many  have  been  connected  with  this 
school  in  all  these  years  it  is  impossible  even  to  gi.e  an  approximate 
estimate.    Who  can  calculate  the  good  which  this  enterprise,  so  small 


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and  so  unpopular  in  its  be£;innin£^,  has  done  in  this  community  and  in  the 
world  ?  Who  can  calculate  the  work  it  is  to-day  doing  and  which  lies  in 
its  hands  for  the  coming  years  ? 

See  this  ceaseless  current  of  immortal  souls  flowing  yearly  through  the 
Sabbath  School  to  be  filtered  and  blessed  by  religious  instruction  and 
influence.  What  an  enterprise  is  this  in  which  to  labor  !  How  much 
better  those  few  ladies  builded  than  they  knew  ! 

We  see  some  advancement  in  Christian  ideas  in  sixty  years.  We 
should  hardly  wish  to  go  back  to  those  days  again.  The  activity  of  the 
Church  as  a  whole,  the  advance  in  Christian  sentiment,  are  quite  amazing. 

But  I  proposed  to  confine  myself  to  a  very  brief  sketch  of  our  Sabbath 
School,  thus  to  open  the  way  for  others  to  speak  whom  we  are  all  eager 
to  hear.  This,  however,  I  will  say:  Let  us  honor  the  names  and  mem- 
ories of  those  Christian  ladies  who  founded  this  Sabbath  School.  Let  us 
be  proud  of  its  history,  and  let  us  give  to  it  our  encouragement  and  our 
service,  so  that  its  future  may  be  even  more  illustrious  than  its  past. 


